Arab Idol and The Voice: Ahla Sawt, do the satellite talent-shows promote regional unity?
Università degli Studi di Roma Tre
Dr. Nicolamaria Coppola
The television targeting Arab countries is growing fast, and there are not doubts
about the Arabic media revolution and widespread in MENA region. The boom of free satellite TV channels in the Arab region seems to have «stifled» the terrestrial TV landscape: the number of free-to-air (FTA) satellite TV channels in the Arab world reached more than 800 channels by January 2016, growing by 651% in ten years.
The paper analyses the impact of satellite TV channels in MENA region, focusing on the cultural challenges derived from the widespread of transnational Pan-arabic shows.
It points out the importance of singing reality shows such as “Arab Idol” and “The Voice: Ahla
Sawt” in unifying a troubled region like MENA. Exploring and describing the fact that these kind of programs can be seen as the last line of defence for national unity and cultural Arabism in the Arab countries, the paper investigates the sense of cultural unity derived and spread by them. It elaborates a new standard with which one can interpret the success of reality shows like “Arab Idol” and “The Voice: Ahla Sawt”, and their ability to win over the population: the (Pan)Arab Dream.
The paper collects information, news and notions that already exist in literature, and after an accurate analysis of all the material, it manages to rework the theories and efine new models and research ideas. The paper brings together non-structural interviews conducted by the A. via Web and with the help of social media (Facebook) and emails. The viewing of programs on YouTube has been of great importance as the adhesion to group discussion via Web from which the A. has got and elaborated information.