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The future of Egyptian dramas
"The question is: Where is Egyptian drama heading to? With the opening of four new terrestrial TV stations, the demand on TV serials will continue to surge. Arab directors have managed to inject Egyptian drama with a much-needed fresh blood; yet, scripts, written entirely by Egyptian scribers, are deteriorating every year.
"From the perspective of Egyptian producers, Egyptian stars remain the biggest attraction and the focal selling point for wealthy Arabic stations. Yet, the Arabic stations’ growing reluctance to purchase Egyptian-produced dramas, opting instead for homegrown serials and Gulf dramas, puts several question marks about the future of Egyptian productions and their market value.
"Egyptian audiences have been departing from Egyptian terrestrial stations for a number of years now. The serials audiences are increasingly shrinking. Middle-aged mothers are the serials’ largest demographic. The day the new TV ratings institute opens (scheduled to begin operating within the next couple of years); advertising money will depart to Gulf stations.
"The success of [TV series] 'Asmahan' and 'King Farouk' has proved that quality has become fundamentally essential for commercial success in TV. Unless Egyptian producers get their act together, improve writing, take chances and abandon their sluggish strategies, the death of Egyptian TV will be inevitable."
Source: Daily News Egypt (Egypt), September 24, 2008
Read on "Asmahan" TV Series:
http://www.thememriblog.org/arabculture/blog_personal/en/9768.htm]
Posted at: 2008-10-06
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