As TRT Sales continues to strengthen its global footprint, we caught up with Mustafa İlbeyli, Director of Advertising & Sales, to look back on the company’s highlights from 2025. He discusses the strong international response to Children of Paradise and Deep in Love, shares insights into the growing demand from the Asian market, and outlines TRT Sales’ key goals and strategies for 2026.
Looking back at 2025, how would you describe this year overall for TRT Sales?
2025 has been a landmark year for TRT Sales. We’ve substantially expanded our global reach and experienced impressive growth across diverse markets worldwide. The enthusiasm our content has generated at international platforms has surpassed our projections, and we’ve established key partnerships that will define our trajectory moving forward. Most significantly, we’ve proven that storytelling from Türkiye possesses worldwide appeal and can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest content in the international marketplace.
Your new titles Deep in Love and Children of Paradise have drawn attention for their emotional storytelling. What do you think makes these series globally resonant?
What enables these series to connect with audiences worldwide is their exploration of fundamental human experiences and emotions. Deep in Love delves into the intricacies of love, personal sacrifices, and new beginnings; these concepts resonate with people regardless of where they live. Children of Paradise examines family bonds, determination, and optimism in a way that captivates international audiences. The casts of both series now feature internationally recognized actors, and Turkish content stands out for its ability to blend genuine emotional authenticity with captivating stories and superior production standards. We create compelling experiences that draw viewers in emotionally, not just for entertainment.
We’re now here at ATF 2025. How do you view the growing interest from the Asian market, and what opportunities does it present for Turkish content?
Asia represents a tremendously promising frontier for Turkish content. We’re witnessing extraordinary enthusiasm from television networks and digital platforms throughout the territory. Viewers in Asia have a particular affinity for our family-centric narratives, nuanced character portrayals, and visual excellence. The social values embedded in our stories, reverence for family structures, communal ties, and heartfelt sincerity, strike a powerful chord across Asian cultures. ATF offers an ideal venue to strengthen these connections and explore collaborative ventures. Additionally, our documentary, children’s programming, and TV movie portfolio is ready to reconnect with our partners once again.
Which titles or genres in your lineup tend to attract the most interest in the Asian market?
Period dramas and family-focused narratives attract the most interest in Asian regions. Our historical productions highlight Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage while also featuring large-scale storytelling. Modern family sagas are equally successful as they address timeless concepts such as love, loyalty, and intergenerational dynamics. Love stories with emotional weight are found particularly appealing. We also have boundless confidence in our documentaries, children’s content, and TV movies, which we eagerly await to share with our partners in the Asian market.
Following your strong presence at MIPCOM and DICM, what are your main priorities and expectations for ATF 2025?
After our impactful participation at MIPCOM and DICM, where we conducted extensive discussions and sparked considerable enthusiasm for our offerings, our ATF objectives revolve around consolidating and broadening our territorial reach. We’re dedicated to reinforcing connections with current Asian television and digital partners while discovering fresh avenues throughout the region. We’re showcasing our upcoming 2026 programming to establish collaborative alliances and advance sales. Crucially, we’re here to absorb insights about evolving trends and viewer demands in Asia, guaranteeing our portfolio remains aligned with audience expectations. Cultivating enduring, mutually beneficial partnerships stands as our fundamental principle.
Looking ahead to 2026, what are the company’s key goals and focus areas?
Looking toward 2026, we’re advancing multiple strategic initiatives. We’re channeling resources into broadening our content variety while preserving our narrative excellence. This encompasses creating additional miniseries and concepts tailored for on-demand platforms. We’re dedicated to scaling our creative output to satisfy escalating worldwide demand. We’re simultaneously upgrading our technological infrastructure and platform-specific approaches. Territorial growth, especially in dynamic regions including Asia and Latin America, will command significant attention. Our ultimate ambition is to establish TRT Sales as a genuinely international content leader while honoring the genuine storytelling traditions that characterize Turkish drama. The progress we’ve achieved throughout 2025 provides us with substantial optimism entering 2026. Worldwide demand for premium Turkish content continues to reach unprecedented levels.
This exclusive interview was featured in Episode Magazine’s ATF 2025 issue.
