Media usage in Turkey - statistics & facts
Turkey's media landscape has seen significant shifts in consumption patterns lately, with internet usage taking the lead. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Turks spent an average of 4 hours and 56 minutes daily online, surpassing television and social media. Even though TV usage was still higher, the consumption of video-on-demand (VOD) platforms increased constantly, amounting to an average of 2 hours and 53 minutes every day. Meanwhile, the number of users in the media market grew in most of the segments in the past few years, recording the highest value in the TV and video category in 2023.
Another segment that gained more popularity due to digital transformation was social media. The social network users grew each year, amounting to 58.5 million in 2023. Among various platforms, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube took the lead as Turkish internet users spent the most time on these apps.
Turkey's media landscape has been undergoing a notable transformation, blending traditional formats with emerging digital platforms. As the country strides into the digital age, media consumption habits have continued to evolve and been reshaped in different ways.
Digital media is slowly taking over
The rise of internet usage aligns with broader trends in digital media consumption in Turkey. In 2024, most Turkish consumers downloaded or streamed digital video content, which corresponded to 93 percent. Digital music services followed closely, as consumed by 83 percent. This digital transition is supported by the shift in device ownership among the population, with nearly 99 percent of internet users owning smartphones in 2023, while feature phone ownership dropped to just 4.5 percent. Correspondingly, the gaming habits of Turkish people have been altered in line with smartphones becoming more widespread. About 86 percent of internet users used their smartphones to play video games in 2023. In comparison, laptop or desktop computer usage dropped to 49 percent.Another segment that gained more popularity due to digital transformation was social media. The social network users grew each year, amounting to 58.5 million in 2023. Among various platforms, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube took the lead as Turkish internet users spent the most time on these apps.
Is traditional media still relevant in Turkey?
Although the rise of the digital media has been unstoppable, traditional media still play an important role. Despite the popularity of streaming services, television was still used by a significant share of people, totaling 80 percent in 2024. Additionally, 74.5 percent of Turks claimed to have watched TV daily, according to a survey conducted in 2023. Radio was another segment that still managed to keep its relevancy, as the number of traditional radio listeners kept on increasing. As of 2023, nearly 44 million people listened to the radio, in comparison to 20 million digital music users. Regarding publishing media services, online news websites and apps were the most preferred category, as consumed by 59 percent of the surveyed Turkish people. In contrast, weekly newspapers and magazines have lost their popularity, with only 21 and 19 percent using them, respectively.Turkey's media landscape has been undergoing a notable transformation, blending traditional formats with emerging digital platforms. As the country strides into the digital age, media consumption habits have continued to evolve and been reshaped in different ways.
