DESPARDES — Turkish TV exports to Pakistan have given rise to competition in the country for better serials, wider viewership and higher ratings.
“The competition with Turkish productions has forced Pakistani producers to make TV series of a higher quality. Pakistani producers are now producing higher quality and beautiful productions as a result of the competition generated by Turkish TV series,” said Faisal Javed Khan who is chairman of the Standing Committee on Info Broadcasting & Heritage in Pakistan.
Interest in Turkish productions got ignited across the country with the broadcasting of hit TV series “Diriliş Ertuğrul” (Resurrection: Ertuğrul) on state channel PTV, Anadolu news agency reported citing Khan.
Since the show had been rolled out in Urdu on national TV, Khan stated that its popularity had caught on. The serial is said to be an instructive piece that describes the Islamic way of life, Islamic culture and history, as well as Turkish history and culture very nicely.
A similar interest in the broadcast was noted among overseas Pakistanis, when DesPardes asked several who are living in the Mideast and USA.
A huge population — almost 10m Pakistanis live abroad and generally watch Pakistani TV channels specially Dramas and Sitcoms being broadcast back home.
In major cities across Pakistan, this TV series was already being watched with English subtitles via streaming platforms on the internet.
“Diriliş Ertuğrul” being broadcast dubbed into Urdu on PTV is however drawing a wider audience and interest.
Urdu is the national language of the country. Historical, religious and cultural affinity between the two countries bridge the serial further with the viewers.
A number of private channels in the country had reportedly broken their ratings by broadcasting these Turkish TV series. “No Pakistani production could hold up against two Turkish TV series in the process that started when two rival channels broadcast “Muhteşem Yüzyıl” (The Magnificent Century) and “Aşk-ı Memnu” (Forbidden Love)”, Khan points out.
Turkish productions ahead of Hollywood, Bollywood
Khan, who is also a producer, said Turkish TV series had gained great success thanks to the quality of their scripts, acting and filming techniques, adding: “Turkish TV series arouse curiosity in people, and viewers are ever-wondering about the next episode. In addition, the soundtracks, sets, acting and shooting techniques are even surpassing those of Hollywood. Many Hollywood productions can’t even compete with Turkish productions. Turkish productions have even surpassed Bollywood’s productions as well. While it has been that mostly Indian TV series and movies are being watched in Pakistan, Turkish productions are now on the rise.”
