As 2020 comes to an end, various media outlets begin year-end inventory.
In the Arab media, an “annual hot drama inventory” attracted people’s attention. The article mentioned that Turkish TV dramas (hereinafter referred to as Turkish TV dramas) have become the hot drama of the year in the Arab region in 2020, and listed the three highest-rated dramas: “Ambassador’s Daughter” which tells the concept of family family’s love shackles, “Dominant President Love “You’re Knocking on My Door” by “Go to Me” and “Doctor Wit” adapted from a Korean drama.
“Hot search” on three native dramas
This result is not unexpected. Since its introduction in 2007, the development of Turkish drama in the Arab region has always been an upward trend. In 2019, the local drama topped the rankings of many Arab TV stations.
In 2020, it will be the top drama of the year in the Arab region. Among them, “Ambassador’s Daughter” was broadcast on 5 sets of MBC TV station in Saudi Arabia, and the response was enthusiastic; “It’s You Knocking on My Door” because it was so popular with Arab audiences that the producer had to temporarily decide to set the original 13 episodes.
The series was extended to meet the audience’s expectations; “Doctor Wit” changed the traditional romance routine and became a dark horse in the native drama dominated by romantic films.
Turkey is the second largest exporter of TV dramas in the world after the United States. So far, it has contributed more than 150 TV series to about 500 million viewers in 146 countries.
Some media predict that by 2023, the export of TV dramas will earn Turkey up to US$1 billion in foreign exchange. The export of native dramas spreads all over Europe, the Arab region, Central Asia and the American countries. Among them, Arab countries are more vulnerable to the radiation of the native cultural circle due to the geographical proximity and cultural commonality with Turkey, so they have become one of the main markets of native dramas. Compared with the traditional foreign dramas in the Arab region, such as Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and other countries, the native dramas are more sophisticated, and the plots can often grasp the pulse of fashion, and it is easier to get the love of Arab audiences, especially female audiences and young audiences.
Korean dramas and Japanese comics are popular
The preference for works closely following the rhythm of the times is the commonality of most viewers. In the 1980s and 1990s, episodes of Egypt, Syria and Lebanon occupied half of the Arab screen with realistic themes. However, since the beginning of the new century, political turmoil and continuous wars have hit the originally prosperous local Arab film and television industry.
Governments of various countries have focused on economic recovery and social stability. In contrast, the art industry has become a neglected trough and even a blank area.
During this period, overseas dramas represented by local dramas and British and American dramas gradually “invaded” the Arab film and television industry. And with the development of YouTube and other video sites and streaming media platforms, receiving and watching overseas dramas is no longer as difficult as in the past, and more and more Arab audiences are turning to accept and watch overseas dramas.
In this context, in order to increase the ratings, major Arab television stations are vying to introduce the copyright of overseas dramas, giving way to prime time to these dramas, which has stimulated the development of overseas dramas in the Arab region to a certain extent.
Although local dramas are far ahead, dramas from East Asian countries also have a place in the Arab region. For example, Korean dramas and Japanese anime have “passed west” to Arab countries, especially Korean dramas are favored by a large number of female audiences. They even set up Korean drama fan groups on the Internet to share their experience and information about Korean celebrities.
In an interview with Arab media, some fans of Korean dramas mentioned that compared with native dramas that are also good at describing love, Korean dramas express bolder ideas, while native dramas tend to favor conservative and traditional views on love, both of which have their own strengths.
Chinese dramas face fierce competition
At the same time that the Korean wave flocked to the Arab region, Chinese dramas also began to enter the Arab region. Family dramas represented by “Daughter-in-law’s Beautiful Times” and “Parents Love”, as well as “Ode to Joy” and other women’s workplace inspirational dramas have also received a lot of praise. Some Arab media have also launched “Chinese TV Series Watching Guide”.
The social family structure in Arab countries is dominated by large families, with “men leading the outside and women leading the inside” mostly, and the female group has become the main audience for TV dramas.
With the improvement of education level, the thinking and thinking of women groups are also changing. From the current point of view, compared with the fire of Korean dramas, although it will take time for Chinese dramas to flourish in the Arab region, dramas that fit the audience’s psychology and conform to the local cultural environment can stand out in the fierce competition of overseas dramas in the Arab region. of.
