In 2023, Raya Group celebrates its tenth anniversary in the international content arena. Ramazan Yirmibeşoğlu, CEO and Founder of the company, spoke with Señal News and described the achievements and challenges form the past ten years.
How would you describe the evolution of Raya Group during its first ten years in the market?
"From 2013, we've come a long way. When we started, concepts like the market for the Turkish series were just emerging, and we learned both by trial and error, paving the way and learning to walk that path. There's still much more to learn. In the era we live in, everything changes and develops very quickly, and to stay in the flow of our industry, we're constantly researching the world's regions and sociological structures, markets, newly emerging content, channels, and VOD platforms. The main goal of our company is to position the content we have in our catalog in the right place and gain the trust of our customers. We value every customer. Raya Group Distribution is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and our goal is to continue providing excellent service to our existing customers, expanding the market, and gaining the trust of new customers to expand our customer portfolio, just like in previous years."
What are the main achievements of the company during this decade?
"As a distribution company, our first and foremost achievement lies in our sales numbers. Since 2013, we have successfully sold over 30,000 hours of content, marking a significant milestone in our journey. Over the past decade, we have expanded our team and strategically assigned sales managers to oversee each global region. This approach has enabled our team to gain invaluable experience and insights into the unique content preferences of various territories. Furthermore, we have made our presence felt at major global markets, including Mipcom, MIPTV, Mip Cancun, Content Americas, LA Screenings, World Content Market, ATF, and Natpe Budapest."
How does the company adapt to a constantly changing industry?
“Regarding technology, we have invested in state-of-the-art cloud technologies to enhance our storage capabilities. This investment has empowered us to deliver content swiftly, often within remarkably short timeframes. Our focus remains on continuous self-improvement and adaptation to industry changes. We are committed to learning, adapting, and achieving even better sales figures year after year. Raya Group boasts a highly skilled team, and we are confident that our achievements will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years."
What new business models and projects have Raya Group developed in its first ten years?
"In the beginning, it was a try-and-learn method. With the growth of Turkish content, we adapt all our workflow. We are working on various production projects with our sister company, Silver Entertainment. For now, we have shot five different rom-com movies and broadcasted those on different global screens, including Netflix. There will be new announcements soon; stay tuned."
How do you analyze the global demand for Turkish content?
"TV series production has shown significant growth in Turkey over the years. A major secret of Turkish dramas lies in their easily relatable emotional elements that resonate with almost every culture. Common themes in these narratives often include rural-to-urban migration, domestic violence, arranged marriages, rich-poor conflicts, urbanization dilemmas, and family values, reflecting societal changes. These topics let viewers empathize with the characters and take them on an emotional journey. The challenges, joys, and disappointments experienced by the characters evoke emotional responses from the audience, drawing them into the story. By reflecting Turkish culture, these series captivate the audience and remain timeless by staying relevant to the ever-changing dynamics."
After reaching its tenth anniversary, what are the company's new objectives and goals?
"Due to our global operations and the importance of promoting Turkish series worldwide and showcasing our culture, every region and country holds significant value for us. While we have established strong connections in Latin America, the Balkans, the Baltics, the Middle East, and Asia, we are committed to further expanding our reach. We have dedicated sales managers for each region within our company, allowing us to provide high-quality services. Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, our goal is to stay in tune with the current trends and find new clients."
By Diego Alfagemez
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