• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • TV/Radio Deals
  • Film partnerships
  • New appointments
  • Production
  • TV Channels

The Ramadan Phenomenon

July 20, 2017
More than 12m movie tickets sold since cinema ban lifted in KSA: SPA

Saudi Film Commission announces third annual Film Criticism Conference

July 28, 2025
Ad 1
Kanal D International licenses Turkish drama ‘Three Sisters’ to Kazakhstan

Kanal D International licenses Turkish drama ‘Three Sisters’ to Kazakhstan

July 27, 2025
BCE to celebrate 25 years with major presence at IBC 2025

BCE to celebrate 25 years with major presence at IBC 2025

July 27, 2025
Senegal becomes 56th nation to join Artemis Accords

Senegal becomes 56th nation to join Artemis Accords

July 27, 2025
Abu Dhabi’s CMA and NG9 Group sign $15m production deal

Abu Dhabi’s CMA and NG9 Group sign $15m production deal

July 26, 2025
MAD Solutions acquires distribution rights to Yemeni film ‘The Burdened’

Zawya Cinema screens Yemeni film ‘The Burdened’

July 25, 2025
NASA launches mission to study Earth’s magnetic shield

NASA launches mission to study Earth’s magnetic shield

July 25, 2025
Ejunior partners with Cartoon Network MENA

Ejunior partners with Cartoon Network MENA

July 25, 2025
Sparkle and Algérie Télécom sign MoU for new subsea cable

Sparkle and Algérie Télécom sign MoU for new subsea cable

July 25, 2025
Mediagenix to demo integration of Spideo personalisation tech at IBC

Mediagenix to demo integration of Spideo personalisation tech at IBC

July 25, 2025

Saudi Film Commission launches second film community initiative across four cities

July 25, 2025
Africa24 Group partners with Ivorian MMA Federation

Africa24 Group partners with Ivorian MMA Federation

July 25, 2025
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Archive
  • Directory
  • Contact
Monday, July 28, 2025
  • Login
BroadcastPro ME
  • News
    • All
    • Analyst Reports
    • AV
    • Cinema Theatres
    • Esports
    • Film partnerships
    • International News
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • New appointments
    • OTT/Video Streaming
    • Podcasting
    • Production
    • Satellite/Comms
    • TV/Radio Deals
    More than 12m movie tickets sold since cinema ban lifted in KSA: SPA

    Saudi Film Commission announces third annual Film Criticism Conference

    Kanal D International licenses Turkish drama ‘Three Sisters’ to Kazakhstan

    Kanal D International licenses Turkish drama ‘Three Sisters’ to Kazakhstan

    Senegal becomes 56th nation to join Artemis Accords

    Senegal becomes 56th nation to join Artemis Accords

    Abu Dhabi’s CMA and NG9 Group sign $15m production deal

    Abu Dhabi’s CMA and NG9 Group sign $15m production deal

    MAD Solutions acquires distribution rights to Yemeni film ‘The Burdened’

    Zawya Cinema screens Yemeni film ‘The Burdened’

    NASA launches mission to study Earth’s magnetic shield

    NASA launches mission to study Earth’s magnetic shield

    Ejunior partners with Cartoon Network MENA

    Ejunior partners with Cartoon Network MENA

    Sparkle and Algérie Télécom sign MoU for new subsea cable

    Sparkle and Algérie Télécom sign MoU for new subsea cable

    Saudi Film Commission launches second film community initiative across four cities

    Africa24 Group partners with Ivorian MMA Federation

    Africa24 Group partners with Ivorian MMA Federation

    Trending Tags

    • broadcast
    • MENA broadcast
    • ConnecTech2019
  • Tech Features
    • All
    • CASE STUDIES
    • New Media
    • REVIEWS
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • Updates from FOMEX
    • Virtual Production Series
    Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

    Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

    Playing to win

    Playing to win

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Trending Tags

    • Videos
      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Reema Omari

      Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

      Mustafa Afifi

      Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

      Don

      ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

      KSASummit

      Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

    • Opinion
      Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

      Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

      Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

    • Interviews
      • All
      • Lounge
      Sand, sweat and high stakes

      Sand, sweat and high stakes

      All eyes on AIUIa

      All eyes on AIUIa

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Shades of success

      Shades of success

      Navigating the news wave

      Navigating the news wave

    • Products
    • Magazine Archive
      • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
      • PRO Directory
    • Events
      • News from Events
      • Upcoming Events
      DICM

      DICM

      IBC Show

      IBC 2025

      MPTS

      CABSAT2025

      CABSAT2025

      NAB Show

    No Result
    View All Result
    BroadcastPro ME
    • News
      • All
      • Analyst Reports
      • AV
      • Cinema Theatres
      • Esports
      • Film partnerships
      • International News
      • Mergers/Acquisitions
      • New appointments
      • OTT/Video Streaming
      • Podcasting
      • Production
      • Satellite/Comms
      • TV/Radio Deals
      More than 12m movie tickets sold since cinema ban lifted in KSA: SPA

      Saudi Film Commission announces third annual Film Criticism Conference

      Kanal D International licenses Turkish drama ‘Three Sisters’ to Kazakhstan

      Kanal D International licenses Turkish drama ‘Three Sisters’ to Kazakhstan

      Senegal becomes 56th nation to join Artemis Accords

      Senegal becomes 56th nation to join Artemis Accords

      Abu Dhabi’s CMA and NG9 Group sign $15m production deal

      Abu Dhabi’s CMA and NG9 Group sign $15m production deal

      MAD Solutions acquires distribution rights to Yemeni film ‘The Burdened’

      Zawya Cinema screens Yemeni film ‘The Burdened’

      NASA launches mission to study Earth’s magnetic shield

      NASA launches mission to study Earth’s magnetic shield

      Ejunior partners with Cartoon Network MENA

      Ejunior partners with Cartoon Network MENA

      Sparkle and Algérie Télécom sign MoU for new subsea cable

      Sparkle and Algérie Télécom sign MoU for new subsea cable

      Saudi Film Commission launches second film community initiative across four cities

      Africa24 Group partners with Ivorian MMA Federation

      Africa24 Group partners with Ivorian MMA Federation

      Trending Tags

      • broadcast
      • MENA broadcast
      • ConnecTech2019
    • Tech Features
      • All
      • CASE STUDIES
      • New Media
      • REVIEWS
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • Updates from FOMEX
      • Virtual Production Series
      Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

      Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

      Playing to win

      Playing to win

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Trending Tags

      • Videos
        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Reema Omari

        Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

        Mustafa Afifi

        Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

        Don

        ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

        KSASummit

        Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      • Opinion
        Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

        Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

        Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

      • Interviews
        • All
        • Lounge
        Sand, sweat and high stakes

        Sand, sweat and high stakes

        All eyes on AIUIa

        All eyes on AIUIa

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Shades of success

        Shades of success

        Navigating the news wave

        Navigating the news wave

      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events
        • News from Events
        • Upcoming Events
        DICM

        DICM

        IBC Show

        IBC 2025

        MPTS

        CABSAT2025

        CABSAT2025

        NAB Show

      No Result
      View All Result
      BroadcastPro ME
      No Result
      View All Result
      AMT Ad ibc Ad
      Home Opinion

      The Ramadan Phenomenon

      Guest Columnist by Guest Columnist
      July 20, 2017
      in Opinion
      ShareTweetPostEmail

      The Ramadan TV phenomenon is unique to the MENA region, where a typical TV viewer tunes into their favourite drama, switches channels during the ad break and catches the same drama on at least two other channels.

      The Ramadan TV phenomenon is unique to the MENA region, where a typical TV viewer tunes into their favourite drama, switches channels during the ad break and catches the same drama on at least two other channels.

      A total of 1,527 hours of Arabic language series based on all regional dialects was produced this year for Ramadan viewing. There are more than one thousand channels on Nilesat alone, most of which rely on this time of year for a spike in ratings.

      Based on ChannelSculptor’s research, there was a 163% increase in viewership during the first six days of Ramadan in the new areas of Dubai, with general entertainment and series channels recording the highest jump in viewership minutes. The same trend extends to internet delivery: an Egyptian Ramadan drama on YouTube typically records from three to 60m views.

      Why are broadcasters buying the same shows for Ramadan? Is it a case of insufficient supply or does the issue lie with the high cost of production?

      If we group Ramadan 2017 series productions by language across all genres, 56% of the series produced are Egyptian. 23% come from the Levant, 20% are Khaleeji/Gulf, and the remainder are mixed dialects or in classical Arabic. A quarter of the Egyptian productions were commissioned to Synergy Media, and a similar proportion of all Khaleeji productions was commissioned to Sabbah Pictures. Levant series, this Ramadan, came from a variety of production companies, with Eagle Films, Shamyana, and Golden Line taking the lead.

      A popular title such as Beelink / Eagle Films’ La Totfe’e El Shams has been broadcast by at least seven different FTA channels. With the exception of MBC, who usually air a share of exclusive content every year, most FTA channels here work with the same production companies and share the same titles.

      Spreading production costs amongst several broadcasters is the only way producers can recoup their very high Ramadan production costs. As a result, some interesting categorisations of territories, platforms, and time frames come into play, creating a rather complex framework of broadcasting rights.

      For example, a drama series such as Al Zaibak is sold exclusively to ON TV for Egypt, but is also airing on other FTA channels such as Abu Dhabi TV. Both are FTA channels broadcasting across the whole MENA region, but with audiences predominantly in different territories.

      Production companies are also using innovative ways to create more value for their assets. While some have non-exclusive policies all around, others categorise exclusive and non-exclusive rights based on platforms and territories combined. A TV asset could be sold exclusively to an FTA broadcaster including digital rights, but also non-exclusively to multiple OTT platforms.

      “Who is the buyer?” is the first question to answer when establishing the price of an asset. When it comes to pricing of the asset in Ramadan, the two most prominent factors that have an influence on the price seem to be the perceived audience size of the prospective buyer and the urgency of the deal (how many days left to the start of Ramadan).

      So the more an asset is sold/ aired, the more visibility it gets and the more it’s being watched, right? Not necessarily. TouTube stats show that the Egyptian Ramadan drama with the most recorded views (exceeding 60m), is airing on only two channels. While linear TV viewership definitely increases during Ramadan, on-demand and OTT viewing cannot be ignored. That’s probably why iflix caught on the trend and is hosting Waklinha Wala, a popular Ramadan production exclusive for the first time ever on an OTT platform.

      There’s a lot of great content out there, but it’s not always easy to find for newcomers. Content deals take place in an ad-hoc way, relying on personal contacts and experience. The MENA TV industry would benefit from greater transparency and easier ways for content buyers and new content producers to find each other. This would generate more sales, create more variety and help to establish clearer standards for content pricing.

      Heba Korayem is Head of Broadcaster Relations at ChannelSculptor and Client Director for the mena.tv Content Hub.

      Tags: ChannelSculptorHeba KorayemMena.TV

      Related Posts

      CABSAT 2025 announces speaker line-up for Content Congress

      CABSAT 2025 announces speaker line-up for Content Congress

      May 12, 2025
      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      May 8, 2025
      Co-Production Salon returns to CABSAT 2025 for fourth consecutive year

      Co-Production Salon returns to CABSAT 2025 for fourth consecutive year

      April 18, 2025
      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

      March 19, 2025
      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      March 10, 2025
      The regional and global impact of Arabic content

      The regional and global impact of Arabic content

      December 19, 2024

      Related News

      E-Vision announces Television Audience Measurement service in the UAE

      E-Vision announces Television Audience Measurement service in the UAE

      May 24, 2021
      Mena.tv to offer free services in solidarity with global content community

      Mena.tv to offer free services in solidarity with global content community

      March 20, 2020
      Mena.tv to launch fundraising campaign on Eureeca

      Mena.tv to launch fundraising campaign on Eureeca

      October 14, 2019
      Mena.tv to feature brand new Ramadan titles to coincide with DICM 2018 event

      Mena.tv to feature brand new Ramadan titles to coincide with DICM 2018 event

      December 6, 2018
      Ramadan TV dramas’ production values rise dramatically

      Ramadan TV dramas’ production values rise dramatically

      May 20, 2018
      MENA online content hub attracts international distributors and producers

      MENA online content hub attracts international distributors and producers

      March 24, 2018
      More Related News

      BroadcastPro ME

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe
      • Magazine Archive
      • Directory
      • Contact
      • Privacy

      Follow us on Social Media

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Tech Features
      • Videos
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Create New Account!

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In