For our Series Mania 2026 issue, we spoke with Can Okan, CEO of Inter Medya.
The industry has shifted, and we chose to lead that change rather than merely follow it. Micro dramas are currently making a massive global impact; they are being consumed everywhere, and most major platforms are already upgrading their infrastructure to accommodate this format. Of course, mainstream long-form content remains at the core of our distribution catalogue, and we will always honor the incredible global legacy those stories have built.”
Following the radical breakthroughs of 2025 that saw its evolution into a full-fledged “Content Studio,” Inter Medya enters 2026 with formidable momentum.
While traditional Turkish drama has dominated global prime-time television for years, shifting digital consumption habits are ushering in a new revolution in the art of storytelling. As the standard-bearer of this movement, Inter Medya has entered 2026 by establishing a global benchmark with its vertical (micro drama) productions.
By successfully condensing the signature epic depth and high production quality of Turkish series into the “swipe-and-watch” pace of modern audiences, Inter Medya has transformed micro-dramas from an experimental phase into a mainstream success story. Reaching millions of viewers with titles like Boardroom to Bedroom, this new format does more than just expand market share; it carries the “Turkish Drama DNA” to every screen size across a vast geography, from Latin America to the Middle East.
For our Series Mania 2026 issue, we met with Inter Medya’s Founder and CEO, Can Okan, to discuss the company’s radical transformation, the new economic ecosystem created by vertical series, and a future vision shaped by international co-productions.
By producing our own diverse content, ranging from our new micro dramas to our successful co-productions, we ensure that the “Turkish Drama DNA” remains a premium experience across every platform. Our ultimate goal is to be the “Global Home for Turkish Stories,” whether those stories are 120 minutes or 90 seconds long.”
The year 2025 was a year of “breakthrough” for Inter Medya, marked by many radical decisions and the establishment of new operational units. With what kind of momentum did 2026 begin for Inter Medya?
Looking back, 2025 was truly a transformative year for us at Inter Medya. It was a period defined by “breakthroughs,” where we took bold, radical steps to grow our internal operations. Beyond these structural changes, it was a year of big excitement for us: we saw our content receive prestigious awards, expanded our talented internal team, and successfully entered several new territories where Turkish content had never been sold before. We felt a deep responsibility to our partners to lead the industry’s evolution rather than simply reacting to it, and we are so grateful for the hard work our team put in to make those milestones possible.
Entering 2026, that effort has translated into a very natural and steady momentum. We’ve moved from the planning phase into a period of active realization. For instance, the micro drama unit we established last year is now producing content that is seeing incredible engagement globally. It’s been humbling to see how quickly platforms and audiences have embraced these shorter formats.
At the same time, we are seeing our ambitious co-production goals come to life. A project like Caged Love, which we are co-producing with Rise Studios and have been nurturing for some time, is now moving into production.
Being at events like Series Mania allows us to continue those vital conversations with our international partners to build on this success. Ultimately, the start of 2026 feels like a coming-together of all those moving parts. While we are proud of our new ventures and our pioneering role in new markets, we haven’t lost sight of the mainstream Turkish dramas that remain the heart and soul of our catalogue. Our goal this year isn’t just about expansion for the sake of growth; it’s about carefully honoring the quality of Turkish storytelling in everything we do. We want to ensure that Inter Medya remains the reliable, global home for Turkish content that international audiences have come to expect from us.
Over the past 3-4 years, Inter Medya has undergone a significant transformation. While the industry once recognized you primarily as a successful distributor, today you have evolved into a fully-fledged “Content Studio” giant with your own productions, vertical dramas, and an extensive catalogue. What was the main motivation behind this strategic transformation?
The industry has shifted, and we chose to lead that change rather than merely follow it. Micro dramas are currently making a massive global impact; they are being consumed everywhere, and most major platforms are already upgrading their infrastructure to accommodate this format. Of course, mainstream long-form content remains at the core of our distribution catalogue, and we will always honor the incredible global legacy those stories have built.
However, by producing our own diverse content, ranging from our new micro dramas to our successful co-productions, we ensure that the “Turkish Drama DNA” remains a premium experience across every platform. Our ultimate goal is to be the “Global Home for Turkish Stories,” whether those stories are 120 minutes or 90 seconds long.
Your vertical series (micro dramas) gained remarkable momentum toward the end of 2025. Can we say that in this early period of 2026, this interest has become a global standard? Could you tell us about the new vertical series you will be adding to your catalogue this year?
It’s absolutely becoming a standard. We’ve moved past the “experimental” phase. Our first original, Boardroom to Bedroom, proved the appetite is there. The trailers alone hit 2 million views in record time. This year, we are expanding our micro drama catalogue as well. We’ve added 16 microdramas from GAIN to our distribution wing, along with titles like New Generation Family and Local Kid. We will add 30 more micro dramas to our slate in the coming days. We are also in the pre-production phase for our own original micro dramas for 2026. The world wants “Turkish Drama” also in a pocket-sized format, and we are delivering it too.
Inter Medya made a very strong entry into the vertical drama space with Boardroom to Bedroom. While fitting the renowned “epic” storytelling style of traditional Turkish drama into a 60-90 second vertical format, which elements do you take the greatest care to preserve?
We don’t compromise on production value. We take great care to preserve the cinematic aesthetic and the emotional “hooks.” In Boardroom to Bedroom, we kept the office rivalry and the intense chemistry between Azra and Murat. We use the same storytelling beats as a 100-episode series, just condensed. Every 60–90 seconds must end on a cliffhanger that demands the next “swipe.”
As an early test, we shared the Turkish version of Boardroom to Bedroom on Instagram through a brand-new account with zero followers: @kami.shorts. The first 15 episodes reached over 16 million views, generating thousands of likes and comments. Many viewers from Spanish and Arabic-speaking regions asked where they could watch the series in their own countries and languages, demonstrating strong international interest.
What is the key message you would like to convey to producers and buyers at Series Mania about Turkish micro dramas?
Turkish dramas are known for their emotional storytelling, strong characters, and high production quality. They feature attractive and charismatic actors and actresses who appeal to global audiences. Today, Turkish dramas are the second most exported drama genre in the world after English-language content. With this in mind, we are developing Turkish vertical dramas tailored for different markets. Our focus is on female-oriented micro dramas with strong user acquisition potential and high marketing creative value. Turkish dramas already perform extremely well across Latin America, the US Hispanic market, the Middle East, Europe, and the APAC region, and we are also seeing strong interest in our vertical dramas from audiences in these regions.
Furthermore, our company’s President, Hasret Özcan, will be a featured speaker in the panel titled “Micro drama apps: When drama goes micro, who’s winning big?” on Wednesday, March 25, at 9:45 AM in the Auditorium Louis Pasteur. She will share valuable insights regarding our company’s vision and mission, as well as the Turkish industry’s strategic position in this field. I highly recommend that Series Mania attendees not miss the opportunity to hear this discussion. For more information, they are also welcome to visit us at our booth, BL9, located in the Business Lounge.
In a vertical series, you can measure audience behavior second by second. Have these digital data insights begun to influence your mainstream series production processes or your script selection decisions?
We maintain a firm boundary between the “scroll-stop” mechanics of vertical content and the “soul” of long-running drama production. Micro dramas are built on a high-velocity dopamine loop. Whereas mainstream storytelling is an architectural craft that requires the luxury of the slow-burn, atmospheric world-building, and complex character arcs that data simply cannot quantify.
Co-production and development agreements and meetings are also at the forefront of Series Mania. As Inter Medya, what steps are you taking in the areas of co-production and project development?
Co-productions hold a very important place in our ecosystem. In this regard, we have pioneered several industry firsts and continue to expand our efforts in this space. Most recently, we announced Caged Love; the project is currently in pre-production and will move into production very soon. We are incredibly excited about this venture and look forward to sharing more details in the near future. Furthermore, our team will be at Series Mania to continue active discussions and explore new opportunities for future co-productions.
