Arabic language reality TV showing growth

This includes locally-produced as well as licensed format-based reality shows. A majority of aired reality TV shows are now original shows produced by local companies.

Spurred by liberalization and the boom in satellite TV viewership, many channels in the Arab TV industry have become major players in offering quality content. The Arab media landscape continues to participate in the reality TV global phenomenon. Reality TV's attraction lies in its relative novelty to audiences as well as its lower costs of production as participants are mainly regular people and not highly paid movie and TV stars.

A new report, "Arabic Reality TV Shows" was released to the Arab Advisors Group's Media Strategic Research Service subscribers. The 44-page report, which has 16 detailed exhibits, provides a detailed analysis of the Reality TV landscape in the Arab World. The report includes analysis and profiles of twenty six major Arabic reality shows on eight FTA satellite television stations between January 2007 and March 2008 (including the reality shows in production to be aired thereafter).

The content of the Arabic reality shows as well as the content of the original licensed format (where applicable) is discussed. In addition, this report points out the Arabic production companies that have played a role in the Arabic reality TV market.

"Analyzing the landscape, shows a major transformation in the production of reality TV shows on Arab TV. A small majority of the reality shows on the researched Arab TV channels are now original shows rather than licensed formats from global companies," Mr. Andrawes Snobar, Arab Advisors Senior Research Analyst and Team Leader wrote in the report. "Obviously, many Arab TV stations outgrew the learning phase of reality TV production, and started their own formats which could mean a better fit with the Arabic culture and norms."

"The early success of reality TV shows based on foreign licensed formats in the Arab World encouraged the Arab TV stations to take the risk of producing their own reality shows. The Arab Advisors Group believes that the trend of producing their own shows and licensed formats will continue amongst Arab TV stations as this remains more cost effective than producing the licensed format," Mr. Snobar added.