The Turkish Competition Board has concluded its investigation into AY YAPIM, MED YAPIM, and MADD concerning the joint international distribution of Turkish TV shows and alleged anti-competitive practices in the labor market. The review focused on potential competition issues arising from the coordination of international distribution by MED YAPIM and AY YAPIM through MADD, as well as the exchange of competitively sensitive information, in violation of Article 4 of Act No. 4054.
The investigation was resolved through commitment and settlement procedures. As a result, administrative fines of 75,790,035.98 Turkish Lira (approximately €1,532,000) and 47,811,989.24 Turkish Lira (approximately €966,000) were imposed on AY YAPIM and MED YAPIM, respectively, for sharing confidential wage information among employees.
In addition, the Board accepted structural and behavioral commitments submitted by the companies regarding their joint international distribution activities. These commitments include the dissolution of MADD, which was assessed as potentially constituting an anti-competitive agreement, and a prohibition on engaging in any future joint distribution activities. The undertakings have committed to conducting their distribution activities independently or, where they do not distribute directly, to use independent distributors. They have also undertaken not to enter into exclusive agreements with national broadcasters, actors, or key production personnel, and to ensure that international distribution agreements do not impose exclusivity clauses that would restrict buyers from engaging with other Turkish producers or distributors. Series and other content will be offered in an open and transparent manner, allowing each piece of content to be sold individually.
The Board has rendered these commitments binding indefinitely, thereby terminating the investigation into the joint distribution of Turkish TV series.