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How did the long drama format emerge?

One of the most common questions from TV viewers in Turkey revolves around episode length. Most local dramas are typically planned at 120-150 minutes, but this is not just the result of creative preference; it is also shaped by the channel’s revenue model, ad placement and TV ratings expectations.

Especially in advertising-funded broadcasting, the longer an episode runs, the more breaks and slots can be created in that evening’s schedule. That is why the answer to “why are Turkish TV dramas so long” is often seen as being tied less to production cost than to the broadcast structure used to recoup that cost.

What does the RTÜK ad-time limit say?

Under Article 10 of Law No. 6112, all advertising broadcasts except tele-shopping may not exceed 20% of the time between one full hour and the next. That means a maximum of 12 minutes of advertising per hour. RTÜK (Turkey’s media regulator) can impose administrative sanctions on broadcasters that exceed this limit.

In addition, films made for cinema and television may be interrupted by advertising only once in every 30-minute segment during the broadcast. Announcements promoting the broadcaster’s own programs are not counted as advertising time. This framework stands out as one of the key rules directly affecting drama ad breaks planning.

Why does a long episode benefit broadcasters?

The hourly ad cap does not make advertising unlimited on its own; however, as broadcast time gets longer, the overall programming block also expands. This creates more time slots in the same evening, and within each hour, new advertising space can be opened to the extent allowed by the rules. For channels, the main issue is stretching one expensive episode across a longer prime-time window.

This model also allows a single production to fill an entire evening as the episode length increases. In this way, the channel reduces the risk of launching a new program and keeps a high-performing drama on air for longer. The practice of extending imported series in Turkey with advertising breaks is also seen as the result of a similar broadcasting logic.

How does it differ from the global standard?

In markets such as the US, South Korea and Japan, the standard episode length is usually in the 40-60 minute range. Turkey’s long-form format is therefore unusual by international standards. For overseas sales, these long episodes may be split into shorter parts or re-edited.

How long episodes affect the set and the story

The long format shapes not only the advertising economy but also the creative process. On the writing side, spreading the plot over a longer period, increasing scenes that may feel repetitive, or extending subplots are among the most frequently debated consequences. On set, there is also concern that the pressure on the work pace and delivery schedule increases.

  • The story rhythm can be built more slowly, and scenes can be kept longer.
  • Actors, technical crews and post-production teams can be squeezed into a tighter schedule.
  • High-rating dramas can become a stronger advertising showcase for the channel.

In the end, the 2.5-hour length of Turkish dramas is shaped not only by audience preferences, but by advertising economics, regulation and prime-time competition. While debates about returning to shorter formats resurface from time to time, a lasting change would require both the broadcast revenue model and production structure to be reconsidered together.

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