The number of Arabic reality TV shows that were locally designed and produced by five FTA satellite TV channels during January and February is higher than the licensed format reality shows from global companies, said a report.

Spurred by liberalization and the boom in satellite TV supply and viewership, many channels in the Arab TV industry recognise the need for offering quality content to maintain their attraction to viewers and advertisers, said a recently released report by Arab Advisors Group, a member of the Arab Jordan Investment Bank Group.

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, the report said.

The 24-page report “Arabic Reality TV Shows”, which has 12 detailed exhibits, provides analysis of the reality TV landscape in the Arab World. It includes analysis and profiles of eight major Arabic reality TV shows on five FTA satellite TV channels during January and February 2010.

The report discusses the content of the Arabic reality shows as well as the content of the original licensed format. It also points out the Arabic production companies that have played a role in the Arabic reality TV market.

“The majority (six out of eight) of the reality TV shows on the researched Arab TV channels are now original shows rather than licensed formats from global companies,” said Noura Abdulhadi, Arab Advisors senior research analyst.

Issa Goussous, Arab Advisors senior research analyst, added: “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.” – TradeArabia News Service