VIP 2000 TV and GoQuest Media to co-produce and distribute Turkish series Kuma

In a ground-breaking move, Miami-based VIP 2000 TV, together with global independent content distributor GoQuest Media, announced their partnership to co-produce the Turkish drama series Kuma/The Other Wife. Both companies will partner in this IP and distribute the series.

The production will be helmed by Stellar Yapim, a prominent independent Turkish film and television production company founded by Inci Gulen Oarr, showrunner of the hit drama series Elif. Stellar Yapim is also the name behind the popular dramas Canim Annem (Querida Madre), Wounded Birds (Omer: Sueños Robados), and Broken Destiny.

This marks a one-of-a-kind collaboration between two non-Turkish entities to produce a Turkish premium daily series. By incorporating real-world locations and high production values traditionally reserved for prime time, the series will offer greater flexibility in scheduling allowing it to be programmed at any time slot.

The collaboration leverages the strengths of each partner: VIP 2000 TV brings its expertise in the Hispanic market distribution, Stellar Yapim’s successful track record in producing high-quality Turkish content with a global fanbase, and GoQuest Media’s experience in worldwide content distribution.

Kuma follows a young woman from eastern Turkey forced to become a ‘kuma’ or second wife to the brother of the man she is accused of killing. An archaic form of marriage practiced in isolated communities, a ‘kuma’ has no legal status.

Pre-production for this new 100-hour series has already begun, and shooting will commence in the Spring of 2024 in Turkey.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with Inci Gulen Oarr on this project. We have been waiting to get involved in our Turkish project, but we needed it to be unique and different from the rest; in a market where there is so much competition, we needed an IP that would have a fascinating story, and we found Kuma,” said VIP 2000 TV CEO Roxana Rotundo.

“We’re lucky to have viewers around the world. An international collaboration like this only makes sense. These days, Turkish drama is truly global content,” added Inci Gulen Oarr, CEO of Stellar Yapim.

Commenting on the partnership, Vivek Lath, managing director at GoQuest Media stated, “The current market dynamics reveal a valuable shift towards a B2B licensing model, and we are therefore strategically transitioning to produce and license content. Partnering with VIP 2000 TV and Stellar Yapim, leaders in their respective fields reinforces this new direction and ensures that we have the best allies as we navigate and capitalize on these market shifts”.

Rosalind Rotundo’s team from VIP 2000 TV is presenting the series at NATPE Global (Stand B8) and Content Americas (Stand 312). Mikaela Pérez from GoQuest Media (Stand MT14) will join the team at Content Americas next week to present the series to the Hispanic market.