13 Turkey in Global Entertainment From the Harem to the Battlefield Senem B. Çevik Introduction Turkey is amongst the many new players in the global entertainment scene that have slowly gained recognition for their cinema and television. Turkey’s appearance in the world entertain- ment scene has been a gradual process – so much so that it has moved from being an importer of media productions to being an exporter of them in a matter of only two decades. Significant advances in media technology, Turkey’s growing economic stability, and its full integration into the liberal economic order have been the key determinants of the evolution of Turkey’s media industry. The 1990s marked a time period in which privatization created a thriving television industry and Turkey broke away from state-run programs. Shortly after this period, Turkish films, by world-renowned directors, won awards in film festivals. As Turkish cinema saw an upward trend, Turkish television was also making strides by the mid-2000s. By 2017, Turkey began exporting both content and its own formats. Acting as a bridge between the East and the West, Turkey has been able to appeal beyond its borders due to its transnational character and a growing distribution network. The Middle East, which lies in Turkey’s approximate neighbor- hood, has been a natural market for its content. This era also coincides with Turkey’s rise on the international scene. Turkey has been applauded for its domestic reforms, growing freedoms, and its ambitious yet multi-tract foreign policy. However, domestic political turbulences have turned the tide around and created a less-open space for freedoms in the media industry. The government’s heavy hand in controlling the discourse on social and political issues, as well as a general political climate that rewards self-censorship, have caused alarming trends in Turkey’s entertainment industry. Following the Gezi Park protests in 2013, the ruling AKP government has been exercising more control over the media, as well as putting further pressures on produc- ers and media conglomerates. Over the course of the last three consecutive AKP governments, media ownership in Turkey has been consolidated. However, even though political pressures on the media and the entertainment industry exist, Turkey continues to be a major actor in global entertainment. Turkey’s position as a major content exporter in the future will be dependent on whether the industry will be able to keep producing creative content rather than government- sanctioned content. Thus, as the drivers of Turkey’s growth – such as democracy and freedom – see a reversal, Turkey’s entertainment industry may experience heavy set-backs. The Emergence of Television in Turkey Television broadcasting in Turkey started in 1964 with the establishment of the state television network called Turkish Radio and Television (TRT). Until the early 1980s, there was only one channel, due to the lack of technology, human resources, and economic means to broadcast multiple channels. More importantly, television sets did not become household items until after the mid-1970s. During this early era of television, Turkey imported content from the United States. Alongside these, there were a number of locally made drama series and sitcoms, as well as Brazilian and Mexican telenovelas that were imported by TRT in the mid-1980s.