Financing crisis in TV series: The sector is shrinking and early finales are increasing
While rising production costs and inadequate advertising revenues in television series lead to a deep financing crisis, the total number of series has shrunk by 37 percent in the last three seasons.
While television series broadcast on screens face a deep financing crisis due to increasing production costs and insufficient advertising revenues, industry representatives state that television broadcasting is under a major threat if no solution is found.
Cost increases in television series and the fact that advertising revenues have not grown at the same rate have brought about the postponement of new episodes, changes in broadcast schedules, and early finale decisions. While cost-saving efforts continue in the sector, Demirören Media TV Group President Murat Yancı emphasized in meetings that even the mass cancellation of series is being discussed and there are no advertisements to cover the costs.
According to data from industry analyst Burak Sakar, the total number of series broadcast in Turkey dropped from 44 to 36 in the previous season, and the number of episodes fell from 860 to 712; the total number of series, which was 57 in the 2022-2023 season, showed a shrinkage of approximately 37 percent within three seasons.
Film critics Başak Bıçak and Murat Tolga Şen, along with producer Yiğit Güralp and Lawyer Sedef Erken, drew attention to the economic, structural, content, and working conditions dimensions of the crisis, stating that the sector needs a sustainable financing model.
Sources
- cumhuriyet.com.tr · Link