Fans of Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı were eagerly awaiting Episode 60, which promised to show the Ottoman Sultan’s next great conquest beyond Constantinople. But the highly anticipated episode didn’t air as scheduled. The reason behind the delay isn’t war, production issues, or creative changes—it’s something far more unexpected: football. Yes, in Turkey, a major football match was enough to shift the prime-time schedule, pushing Episode 60 from 25 November to 2 December. Let’s break down why this happened and what it means for fans.
Mehmed’s Next Conquest: Trabzon
The story of Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı has reached a critical point. Constantinople has fallen, and Sultan Mehmed’s ambition stretches further. His next target? Trabzon, the last surviving stronghold of the Byzantine Empire.
Episode 60 was set to depict the preparations for this campaign:
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Military planning and troop movements
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Diplomatic negotiations and tensions
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Formation of alliances and rivalries
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The strategic march toward the Black Sea
This episode was meant to build anticipation for one of the series’ most important arcs.
The Real Reason Behind the Delay
The postponement came down to a simple yet unavoidable reason: a major football match aired on TRT, Turkey’s national broadcaster. Football isn’t just a sport in Turkey—it’s a cultural phenomenon. Whenever an important match is broadcast, it takes over prime-time TV, and the entire schedule is reshuffled.
Episode 60 wasn’t delayed due to drama production problems or technical issues—it simply lost its prime-time slot to football.
Why Not Air It Late at Night?
Some fans might wonder why TRT didn’t air the episode after the football match. Here’s why that’s unlikely:
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Prime time = maximum viewership
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Late night = lower ratings
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Breaking the weekly schedule = losing audience rhythm
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Advertisers demand consistent timing
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Story impact diminishes after midnight
To protect both the episode’s performance and the series’ overall viewership, postponing to the next scheduled day was the smartest decision.
Why a Full Week Delay?
Turkish drama schedules are very rigid. Here’s why Episode 60 couldn’t simply be aired the following day:
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Each series has a fixed weekly day for episodes.
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Promotions, ads, and press are all pre-planned around the schedule.
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Changing the day disrupts the audience flow and rating cycles.
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Weeks of planning are built around specific time slots.
So, a full week’s wait is unavoidable but necessary to maintain the series’ momentum.
The Frustration Is Understandable
Fans’ disappointment is natural. Episode 60 is not just another episode—it marks a pivotal moment:
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Mehmed transitions from conqueror to emperor
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Expansion beyond Constantinople begins
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Strategic and political developments intensify
The delay interrupts the excitement of seeing Mehmed’s march toward Trabzon, the last Byzantine stronghold.
Waiting Makes the Hype Even Greater
While the delay is frustrating, it also builds anticipation. When Episode 60 finally airs on 2 December, fans will experience the start of a crucial campaign:
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Strategic military moves
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Diplomatic negotiations
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Alliances and rivalries
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The march toward the Black Sea
Every delay in history adds tension—and this pause may make the next episode even more thrilling.
