Turkish series live and die by weekly ratings. Here is how they are measured, what the categories mean and how to read them.
If you follow Turkish dramas online, you will see fans posting weekly rating numbers and arguing over which series “won” the night. Ratings matter in Turkey in a way they do not for streaming-first series: they influence advertising income, schedule changes and whether a series continues. This guide explains how Turkish TV ratings are generally reported and why they affect the shows you watch.
A note on sources: Turkish ratings are published by industry bodies and reported by fan sites and the press, and the exact methods and demographic definitions are not always well documented in English. We stick to what is broadly reported and where we describe the categories, we say so. We deliberately do not give specific thresholds for a “good” rating, because they vary by channel, time slot and year.
Who measures the ratings?
Turkish TV audience measurement is run by TİAK (Televizyon İzleme Araştırmaları A.Ş.), the Television Watching Monitoring Committee, which is formed by broadcasters and advertisers. Wikipedia's article on television in Turkey cites TİAK for its 2024 channel viewing-share table.
The system has had a turbulent history. In December 2011, police raided production companies and the research firm AGB Nielsen over alleged tampering with ratings, and the addresses of about 1,070 measurement households were reported to have been compromised. TİAK ended its contract with AGB Nielsen, which then said it would stop conducting rating measurements in Turkey. At the time, the TV advertising market was worth about $1.5 billion, which shows why the numbers mattered.
Total, AB and ABC1
Turkish ratings are usually reported in three categories: Total, AB and 20+ABC1. Dizilah, a Turkish drama site, notes that the importance of each category generally depends on the socio-economic background of the audience it counts.
- Total — The whole measured audience | The headline figure, and the one fans usually quote
- AB — A higher socio-economic segment of viewers | Valued by advertisers who target that segment
- 20+ABC1 — Adults aged 20 and over in the upper and middle socio-economic groups | Another advertiser-focused segment, often used by channels to argue that a series is valuable
The second and third rows describe the categories in general terms, and the exact definitions are set by the measurement body. The practical point is this: a series can top the Total ranking but lag in AB, or the other way round, and channels may point to whichever category helps their case.
Rating and share
Two terms appear in most ratings coverage. The rating is the percentage of the measured audience that watched a program, while the share is the percentage of those who were watching television at the time. Share is usually higher than rating, because fewer people are watching than the total audience. When fans compare numbers, check which one is being quoted, and whether it is Total, AB or ABC1.
Why ratings matter so much
- Advertising. Channels earn money from advertising during and between long episodes, and ratings help set the price.
- Schedule moves. A series with weak ratings can be moved to another night or time slot.
- Cancellations and endings. Because episodes are made while the series airs, a series can be wrapped up early. Wikipedia's article on Turkish television drama reports that only about 10% of series get a second season, out of roughly 70 produced each year. We discuss how this shapes season length in how many seasons Turkish series have.
- Extensions. A hit can be extended, as with the long-running Grand Family, with 199 episodes over six seasons, or Yasak Elma, with 177.
How ratings can shape the story
When a series is renewed or cut short based on its numbers, the writers adapt. A series with strong ratings may add storylines to run longer, while one under pressure may rush its finale. This is one reason the endings differ so much in quality. You can see the result on DiziCentral's cancelled shows list, which includes series such as Gülcemal, which lasted one season, and Aziz.
Ratings are not the same as quality
High ratings mean that many people watched, not that a series is the best, and low ratings can hide series that find an audience later. Several of the most famous Turkish series are known for international success rather than domestic ratings. For example, Endless Love drew an average of more than two million viewers per episode on Univision in the United States, according to Wikipedia, and is covered in our Endless Love review. Streaming originals, such as those on Netflix, are not rated in the same way at all, because they are not broadcast on a schedule.
How to read ratings talk online
- Check the category. Is the post quoting Total, AB or ABC1?
- Check the time slot. A series airing against a big football match or a rival's finale will be affected.
- Look at trends. A series that rises over weeks tells you more than a single night.
- Remember the audience. Ratings count the Turkish broadcast audience, not international viewers or YouTube views.
- Do not decide your own taste by it. Use our guide on how to choose a Turkish series to watch to pick by mood.
To understand more about the industry behind the numbers, read Turkish TV channels explained and why Turkish drama episodes are so long. For new series that will be judged on their ratings this season, see upcoming Turkish series this season.
Frequently asked questions
Who measures TV ratings in Turkey?
TİAK, the Television Watching Monitoring Committee, formed by broadcasters and advertisers, is the body cited for Turkish audience measurement.
What do Total, AB and ABC1 mean?
They are the categories in which ratings are reported. Total covers the whole measured audience, while AB and 20+ABC1 are socio-economic segments that matter to advertisers.
What is a good rating for a Turkish drama?
It depends on the channel, the time slot and the year, so there is no single threshold. Look at the trend and the competition.
Do ratings decide whether a series is cancelled?
They are a major factor. Because episodes are made while a series airs, poor ratings can lead to an early ending, and strong ones to an extension.
Do Netflix series have ratings like this?
No. Streaming series are not broadcast on a schedule, so they are measured differently.
