Turkish TV productions in the Albanian media; the rise of a new “poetic” medium

Abstract

Turkish TV serials are a new phenomenon in Albania. This country ironically was the last one in the Balkans to broadcast Turkish serials, even later than Greece, the historical competitor of Turkey in the Balkans. Albania, with a largely Muslim population, (56.70 percent and an additional of 2.09 percent Muslim Bektashi) was more affiliated with Italian TV productions such as films, serials etc. and various local productions (Italian patent models). The change started on April 11, 2011 when the first TV serial Gumus ‎ was broadcasted by the national TV channel, Klan TV. The Albanian Television history and TV culture is affected by the Italian culture and media. Two generations, that of my father and mine, grew up with the Italian media and culture. But after a decade of strong Albanian private media (TVs, radios, newspapers and internet sites) the Italian culture seems to have passed in the second place. The rise of the “soft power” of Turkey in the Balkans brought the soft power of Turkish television in the region. Nearly 15 Turkish TV serials changed the perception of Albanian viewers for Turkey and its serials dramatically. One by one, the Brazilian-Latin American TV serials disappeared from the Albanian screens. Now there are two strong players: the Turkish TV serials with their poetry, and the Italian TV serials with their action. Why are they popular with the Albanians? The usage of literature and poetry makes them different from all the other productions of Latin America, USA and Europe. That brings another era to the Albanian TVs, a new culture. This element is the main focus point of this article.