Ql - ITO

98 İSTANBUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Besides the Faculties of Communication, 7 Fine Arts Faculties provide
"Cinema-TV" education. There are also several institutions providing
certificate programs on television broadcasting and television joumalism such
as Pera Güzel Sanatlar, TURVAK, Akademi İstanbul.
Turkish television series in particular and Turkish television programs in
general fınd an important place not only in domestic market but also in
international markets. Even in the period of public television broadcasting on a
sin gl e channel in 1981 TRT started exporting programs to different countries.
Obviously at that time because of the nature of the public broadcasting, the
main aim was not to gain profıt but to introduce Turkish culture and provide
Turkish citizens living abroad with programs in their own language and culture.
In 1981, 52 productions including documentary movies, movies and series were
sold to 9 countries mostly in Europe. In 1986, TRT was represented in its own
stand of representation in Cannes Film Festiva1. 72 However, Turkish television
prorgams became really widespread in the 2000s. First, the TV series of Kanal
D titled as "Gümüş" (Noor) was sold fırst to Egypt and then to other Middle
Eastem and Gulf countries as a result of international connections built up by
the broadcasting company. As a result of this expansion started in 2006,
"Gümüş" had a great success in these countries just like "Dallas" or "The
Young and The Restless" on ce had. Its name was change d as "N oor" and
became a sensational phenomenon. As stated by the producer of this series,
many factors had their share in this success. First of all, one of these factors is
the positive image that Turkey has gained recently in the Middle Eastern and
Ara b-Muslim societies. Second, although having a Muslim population, Turkey
has much more liberallife styles, so Turkey became a model for these countries
and such kind of life styles was transmitted through "Gümüş" and other TV
productions. Third, the main character of the series was a strong and
independent woman who can overcome diffıculties with her own determination
without the h elp of o man 73 .
72
73
For more information in this subject cf. Özden Cankaya, ibid, 2002, p. 241.
In-depth interview with the producer, 22 July 2011.