The first half of the 2024/2025 TV season has officially wrapped up. A total of 40 series aired, including 22 new productions. However, only one of these newcomers managed to achieve double-digit ratings. Four of the top five most-watched series of the season so far have been renewed from previous seasons. This marks this season as one of the weakest in terms of new productions.
Far Away delivered an impressive performance and concluded the first half of the season as the most-watched series. Initially launching with moderate ratings, the series saw a rapid surge, eventually achieving double-digit figures. Last week, it hit an impressive 15.02 rating, marking the highest viewership record of the past four years. Considering the steady decline in television viewership overall, Far Away surpassing the 15-rating threshold could be interpreted as the biggest success of the season.
Among this season’s new series, Far Away’s closest competitors are three shows with similar ratings. The adaptation of Avenida Brasil, Leyla, and 6 of Us, which airs on the same day, are following closely with average-level ratings. Meanwhile, Portrait of a Scandalous Family, which premiered slightly later than these two series and airs on Sunday nights, holds the third spot among new releases with similar numbers.
In Turkish television, the ratings increase between the first and second episodes serve as a key indicator of a show’s initial reception. This season, 5 of the 22 new shows saw a notable jump of at least +1.50 points in their second episode. The Nightfall (+3.36), Valley of Hearts (+2.27), and Far Away (+2.56) stood out as the top performers in this regard.
Starring Aras Bulut İynemli, The Good & The Bad premiered in September, delivering the strongest debut of the season with a 6.24 rating. The Fall of the King, starring Halit Ergenç and debuting in February, recorded the second-highest opening with a 5.51 rating. Meanwhile, nine newly launched series were canceled before reaching the second half of the season, with none of them managing to surpass the 13-episode mark.
Written by Burak Sakar, this article was featured in Episode Magazine’s MIP LONDON 2025 issue.
