Ad Revenue Hits 30-Year Low: Production Companies Demanding 15% Pay Cuts for Series Actors

The decline of television advertising revenue to its lowest level in 30 years in October has mobilized production companies in the sector. Wage reduction demands have begun pouring in, particularly targeting actors and set crews.

Surec Film, in line with the channel's request, has asked actors in the 'Haysiyet' series to accept a 15% pay cut. Actor Kerem Alışık, who plays the character Sadık Karlıova in the series, is reported to have said: "Let us actors take the cut, do not touch the technical crew." According to information relayed by Ekonomim, similar pressure has occurred in the 'Evlat' series, which Bozdağ Film is preparing for atv and which will star Hazal Subaşı and Birkan Sokullu in leading roles; actors were asked to accept pay reductions before production had even begun.

The numbers illustrate the weight of the situation: while the average production budget per episode was 14 million lira in the 2024-25 season, it rose to 22.5 million lira in the 2025-26 season—a nominal increase of roughly 61 percent. Conversely, during the same period, the number of series on air declined from 44 to 36, and the number of episodes fell from 860 to 712. Of the 24 new series that aired during the season, 8 ended before reaching 13 episodes.

In cost negotiations, channels are requesting 25% reductions from production companies, while cutting episode lengths from 140 minutes to 110 minutes is also among the options being discussed.