This year, Ramadan programming found itself going up against tough competition: the World Cup. And if you think the football craze didn’t impact entertainment content being broadcast starting June 28, you’re mistaken.
Khulud Abu Homos, Senior Vice President for Programming and Creative Service at leading regional pay TV platform OSN, says that there wasn’t a drastic shift in storytelling, but there was a deliberate one — and that shift was towards women.
“The scriptwriters, the producers, everyone was a bit worried about the fact that the World Cup would be there, so we would have lost the male audience,” she said. “So all the script development and content development was based on attracting a female audience.”
Even then, thoughtful and sentimental storylines were mixed in with more tragic, satirical and even ludicrous ones, creating a mixed bag of plots and sub-genres for viewers to choose from. About 70 per cent of new content created in the Middle East that airs during Ramadan, however, is focused on drama.
“I think comedy is a key anchor — whether it’s more important than drama, that’s another story, because drama is the backbone of Ramadan,” said Khulud.
Traditionally, people who are fasting prefer to watch something light right before and right after breaking their fast. Shows aired during other times are built around more serious series and religious content. Despite the importance of comedy and light entertainment, these genres are harder to get right as they don’t always translate across borders.
“Drama has more of an international relevance than comedy...Kuwaiti comedy [would] not necessarily will attract an Egyptian audience,” said Khulud.
Original Arabic content has grown in quantity and quality since last year, despite the prevalence of Turkish dramas such as Hareem Al Sultan. There’s also a shift of Arabic actors, producers and directors from the world of cinema and theatre to TV, giving both depth and higher quality to Arabic dramas.
Hit Kuwaiti show Al Wajeha, which premiered in December 2013 on OSN, proved especially popular, paving the way for similar titles.
“We’ve seen that this show has peaked more than any other show, even our top content,” said Khulud. “This gives us the confidence to invest more in Arabic.”
As for the shows that are in there second, third, fourth, fifth or six parts this year? “It becomes a cult...I think when a show — especially comedy — becomes a cult producers have more confidence in continuing the production.”
“Ramadan is a beautiful, generous, holy [month] and has it’s own spiritual feel to it,” said Khulud. “I think the fact that you have audiences sitting more in front of TV and families sitting together, it’s an opportunity that no broadcaster can miss in the Middle East.”
DRAMA
Exclusive: Al Khatee’a (The Sin), Part I
Channel: 1am on OSN Yahala Shabab HD
Synopsis: In this Egyptian drama, businessman Yassin is working with his father’s company and about to commit the wrong-doing of a lifetime. After cheating on his wife, Salwa, with his ex-fiancee, Rania, he discovers he’s impregnated her. What follows is an increasingly complicated journey to redemption.
Starring: Sharif Salamah, Reham Abdul Ghafoor, Shireen Adel
Exclusive: Seerat Hob (Story of Love)
Channel: 11.00pm on OSN Yahala HD
Synopsis: The selfless but naive Reem is torn between two paths: being with the love of her life, simple mechanic Khalid, or being with the wealthy and influential Majdi who can provide her security. Khalid holds the key to secrets in this mystery drama. As riddles unravel, he helps Reem come to her final decision.
Starring: Cyrine Abdul Nour and Maxim Khalil
Exclusive: Lelhob Gnoon (Madness of Love)
Channel: 12am on OSN Yahala HD
Synopsis: In this tragic tale of affection lost, two partners are torn apart after one party has their heart broken and love turns to hate. Events leap 18 years, revealing a complicated web of revenge, greed, passion and of course, the madness of love.
Starring: Abdul Mohsen Al Nimer, Maysaa Maghrabi and Somood
Exclusive: Intiqam Aziz (Special Revenge)
Channel: 8pm on OSN Yahala HD
Synopsis: Set in the Gulf, this series revolves around bright, energetic and ambitious Business Administration graduate Aziz. The death of his father stands between him and his dreams, leading him to corruption. Family disintegration, alienation from heritage and the downfall of excessive pride and materialism follow.
Starring: Naif Al Rashed
Dahsha
Channel: 3pm on Sharjah TV
Synopsis: Basel Hamad, a wealthy but illiterate man in his seventies, lives in Darsha village in Egypt. He’s an international arms dealer living under the guise of a camel merchant, deciding to distribute his wealth among his three daughters. The story revolves around his feelings of uncertainty, bewilderment and isolation.
Starring: Yahya Fakharani
Thouraiya
Channel: 4.45pm on Sharjah TV
Synopsis: Thouraiya got married traditionally at a very young age, only to realise that she could not continue that life. Despite huge family and social challenges, she decides to divorce her husband and is faced with the practical realities of life. The story of a hardworking woman who struggles to make her life her own.
Starring: Soaad Abdullah
Bab Al Hara, Part 6
Channel: 12.30am on Sharjah TV
Synopsis: Abu Issam returns to the neighbourhood, where everyone thinks he’s dead. This is bad news for Abu Zafer who’s also coming to the neighbourhood with his family. The news of Abu Issam’s return reaches Muataz, who’s hiding in Al Ghota where he sets up his own court to prosecute traitors. Suaad refuses to meet Abu Issam unless he comes clean about Nadia, the French woman who helped him escape jail.
Starring: Abbas Al Nouri, Sabah Al Jazaeri, Mustafa Al Khani, Wael Sharaf, Wafaa Mousili
Women’s Prison
Channel: Dubai Television
Synopsis: Three women meet in prison and face injustice. Together, they discover that the reason many women land in prison is the dictatorship and corruption of their society and not due to bad behaviour or a lack of positive upbringing. Behind bars, the various complicated stories of these women unfold.
Starring: Nelly Karim, Dorra, Ruby
Excellence
Channel: Dubai Television
Synopsis: Millionaire Saif Al Dasouqi, also known as “Excellence”, finds himself being chased by his enemy, Riyadh, who has become a minister. Riyadh abuses his authority to falsely accuse Excellence of many crimes, including homicide, forcing him to flee the country and leave his money, family and businesses behind.
Starring: Ahmad Ezz, Noor, Ahmad Rizq
Hareem Al Sultan, Part 4
Channel: 10pm on OSN Yahala HD
Synopsis: The fourth and final season of this Arabic-dubbed Turkish drama comes with fresh faces and plot twists. An unexpected decision from the Sultan shakes the throne of the Sultanate. And after the disappearance of Hiam, she is back loaded with more power and hatred, determined to fight back.
Saraya Abdeen
Channel: MBC1
Synopsis: In this historical drama, set during the reign of Khedive Ismail of Egypt, the “Haramlek” compete for the satisfaction and appeasement of Khedive. Conflict rages. The series boasts a large production and paints the era in broad strokes, touching on the social climate of a past time.
Starring: Yusra, Qasi Khuli, Nilly Karim, Gada Adel
RELIGIOUS
Prophet-Led Battles
Channel: 12pm on Sharjah TV
Synopsis: Episodes of this programme will present the most famous prophet-led battles, such as the Battle of Badr, Bani Al Nadheer, Uhud, and the Battle of the Trench, as well as the most important lessons learnt from them.
Wonders of Stories in Quran 3
Channel: 1pm on Sharjah TV
The new series of this animated drama boasts a collection of marvellous stories with special heroes. Each story shares interesting details unknown to most people, conveys morals and teaches values that Muslims will benefit from in their life and afterlife.
Saleem, Part 3
Channel: 7pm on OSN Yahala HD
Synopsis: Mustafa converses with a mysterious figure about the philosophy of life. Throughout his travels, he is guided by the words of this wise person . However, as the series comes to a close, we discover a reality about Mustafa’s inner thought processes that uproots our entire perception of the characters.
Presented by: Mustafa Aidaroos
COMEDY
Al Kabeer Awi (The Very Grand One), Part 4
Channel: 9pm on Yahala Shabab HD
Synopsis: At the end of season three, a new brother was discovered, and this season, he returns with a newfound wealth to buy the mayor’s house and begins to dub himself Al Omda (the mayor) in order to control his siblings and others.
Starring: Ahmad Mekki
Al Aafour
Channel: Dubai Television
Synopsis: A satirical series that chronicles daily life in the Bou Ghazi household, headed by the grandfather and grandmother and including their children and grandchildren. Changing political and social conditions are touched upon, with the family representing a small example of their broader society.
Starring: Abdul Hussain Abdul Reda, Mays Kamr
Embratoriat Min (Whose Empire)
Channel: MBC1
Synopsis: In this satirical tragedy comedy, a family returns to Egypt from England after 15 years — and in particular, after the Egyptian revolution — only to face the ways in which the country and its citizens have been changed.
Starring: Hind Sabri, Ezzat Abu Ouf, Salwa Khattab, Mohammad Shahin
Saheb Al Saada (Happiness’ Friend)
Channel: MBC1
Synopsis: In Saheb Al Saada, a retired man loves life and all things modern. He spends recklessly and leaves little thought to the long-term consequences. It’s a family affair — produced by Rami Imam, starring his father, comedic giant, Adel Imam — that also features cinema star Libliba in her first TV appearance.
Starring: Adel Imam, Libliba, Munham Khalid Zaki
WiFi 3
Channel: MBC1
Synopsis: In the third season of WiFi, expect new and increased sketches — up to 12 in an episode — that touch upon issues relevant to Arab and Gulf-based youths. The show promises to be more daring while also increasing production quality.
Starring: Assad Al Zahrani, Habib Al Habib , Haya Al Sha’ibi
*Timings are subject to change or are to be confirmed.