Aysegul Tuzun
Following an influx of suspensions and delays for the Turkish distribution market amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Mistco’s team is more prepared than ever to showcase this season’s slate of titles at this year’s Mipcom event. Aysegul Tuzun, Managing Director of the company, spoke with Señal News about the new content slate. It will be the first physical market for the company in more than 18 months, where they will launch all last season’s successes.
Tuzun was sure about the business climate after the pandemic. “I realized how much I missed physical meetings because you can express yourself better in person, and you can connect with people,” she admitted.
The company has big aspirations for the event following last year’s slate’s results. “The Innocence” was the highest-rated drama of the season, gaining global positive feedback after reaching 50 countries. There are still ongoing negotiations for the title, currently being aired in Spain on Antena 3.
Another successful show that was aired last season is “An Anatolian Tale,” produced by Köprü Film and broadcasted by TRT1. Moreover, “Shadow Team” became the leader of Sunday evenings last season in Turkey, and its second season will be presented at Mipcom. “It was a very strong season for all of us,” Tuzun said.
Furthermore, Mistco’s new shows will include two new historical dramas: “Barbarossa: Sword of the Mediterranean,” which showcases four brothers who served as conquerors of the world in the 16th century. The title has already closed several deals, just with only one episode aired in Turkey. Following that broadcast, the title became the top show of Thursday evenings, projected to become the highest-rated drama of that entire competition-packed day.
The slate also includes “Great Seljuks: The Legend of Alparslan,” the story of the great commander who opened the doors of Anatolia to Turks. “Initially, when the pandemic started, we were a little concerned about the future of our business. If there were no new productions, it meant that we wouldn’t have anything new to sell, but our company is very lucky since we are representing a huge content library,” Tuzun said.
● UNEXPECTED RESULT
With an influx of viewers staying home during the pandemic, Mistco saw a great programming demand. “I cannot say that the pandemic affected our business. In opposite, we saw great potential for our library titles,” Tuzun explained. Mistco’s global business, once limited to free and pay TV, can also rely on digital platforms. The demands from both sides continued to increase after productions resumed in Turkey.
Despite the growth that the company experienced in the pandemic, Tuzun admitted that the client productivity during the virtual markets was relative. “That method has become increasingly boring, and those meetings are not as effective as in the in-person world. We will have big news to share at Mipcom. We are excited to be there. We really missed our connection and our friends with the industry. We hope to meet you all at Mipcom,” Tuzun ended.
By Karla Florez
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