Television is the favourite pastime of Maghreb households

19/01/2006

Television watching habits in the Maghreb vary greatly. While private channels are now a reality in Tunisia and Morocco, radio and television in Algeria have resisted private sector competition despite loud calls from opposition parties. Nonetheless, television is still the favourite pastime of families.

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 19/01/06

[File] Family television viewing is especially pervasive during Ramadan

Since the 1990s, the growth of satellite television viewing has been continuous. Satellite dishes adorn the roofs of houses everywhere, offering a selection of local, Arab and French programmes. Ironically, all studies of television viewing figures show that in spite of lower budgets, local programmes are still preferred by viewers. Pan-Arab channels are the next most-popular viewing choice. Special-interest programmes, films, news and music are the items of most interest to the public.

The success of local networks is due to the strict decency standards maintained in broadcasting, eliminating images that may be deemed unsuitable for family viewing. Viewing figures for local networks over the month of Ramadan were found to be around 80 per cent. Networks broadcast show mostly local programmes, sitcoms and soap operas. Television is particularly valued during Ramadan as Maghreb families gather around the television set as the period of fasting comes to an end.

The audience share of local networks in the Maghreb was 40 per cent in 2005, while pan-Arab channels accounted for 34 per cent (45 per cent in Tunisia and 41 per cent in Morocco) and French networks took a 26 per cent share (48 per cent in Algeria, five per cent in Tunisia and 11 per cent in Morocco. In terms of the penetration of pan-Arab networks, Al-Jazeera and Rotana Cinema were the leaders, each with a share of eight per cent in 2005 in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. The Middle East Broadcasting Centre has a four per cent share, while the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation is being increasingly watched for its programme "Star Academy".

In an area of 75m television viewers, the programmes of choice are dramas, variety programmes and sport. Recently, reality shows and games produced by companies such as Endemol are capturing public attention.

Analysts point to the apparent high cost of other family activities and the precipitous decline in reading as a pastime as the main reasons behind the growing success of television in Maghreb households. The growth in viewing habits has had a beneficial impact on the television set market, for which prices have fallen significantly since 2000.

With digital television reception becoming as low as $100 per month, many people are able to obtain a satellite dish and digital receiver, or even a card for pirating encrypted channels from satellite packages.