Nippon TV in Turkish drama first

MIPCOM: Japan’s Nippon TV has struck the country’s first ever drama format deal with Turkey.

Nippon TV’s hit series Mother (11×60’) has been sold to Turkish prodco MF Yapim and Medyapim, and will be remade as Anne (Turkish for mother, 11×90’) for Star TV in time for the fall season.

The Turkish version will star Vahide Perçin (Magnificent Century) and Cansu Dere (Ezel, Magnificent Century).

Faruk Bayhan, president of MF Yapim, described the Japanese drama as “a remarkable TV series with its successful production and its power to create awareness sociologically.” He said he hoped it would lead to further co-operation with Nippon TV.

Atsushi Hatayama, president of international business development for Nippon TV, who brokered the agreement with MF Yapim, said: “Our hope is that, thanks to this deal with MF Yapim, Mother will achieve tremendous success in Turkey, where we know for a fact the viewers are extremely savvy.”

The sale is a breakthrough for Japan, which is this year’s country of honour at Mipcom. Turkey, last year’s honouree, is already the world’s second largest producer of drama after the US and doing brisk business with its own finished and format sales internationally, most recently in Latin America and Europe.