CAIRO — Egyptians’ hearts and minds are focused on TV screens during Ramadan, as TV shows have a booming viewing market during the holy month. For many years, Ramadan has witnessed intense competition between drama producers to broadcast their productions on more than one channel and at a prime time — immediately after the evening iftar meal, when the audience is at its largest.
But the market for drama in Egypt over the course of the current Ramadan season differs from previous years in that it has witnessed a noticeable decline in the number of series produced. The number of series broadcast on satellite channels in Egypt has declined by almost half, so that 20 series have aired this year as compared with previous years that have seen upwards of 35.
