MTV Arabia to drop music videos in Ramadan

QUIET PERIOD: MTV Arabia is dropping music videos during the month of Ramadan.

MTV Arabia, the Middle East’s youth entertainment and lifestyle channel, has announced it will mark Ramadan by dropping music videos.

The channel, which launched in November, has brought the Arab world cutting-edge international music as well as the best in Arabic pop and hip hop.

But its Ramadan fare will reflect the solemnity of the Holy Month, according to Samr Al Mazouqi, the channel’s manager.

He said: “The Holy Month is a time for introspection, and we would like to offer our viewers a break from the ordinary fare.

"Though part of a global brand, MTV Arabia is conscious of regional sensitivities and we are keen to respond to the needs and desires of viewers in the Middle East, the vast majority of whom will be fasting, spending time with family, and focusing on their spiritual lives.”

The channel will continue to play programmes from MTV’s international roster of reality shows, celebrity news and pop culture documentaries.

As is customary with television channels across the region, MTV Arabia will air the call to prayer during Maghreb.

A free to air channel, MTV Arabia broadcasts from Dubai and is available on the Nilesat and Arabsat platforms.

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READERS' COMMENTS

MTV = Music Television
Posted by Ziad Al-Duaij, Kuwait City, Kuwait on Monday 1 September 2008 at 18:46 UAE time


Even though MTV in the US barely plays any videos anymore, I consider this move by MTV Arabia to be the height of hypocrisy. Arabic music channels like Melody and Mazzika continue to play videos on during Ramadan.. and now MTV - a division of Viacom - is playing "holier than thou"??

You can tone down the racier content a bit, but to decree all music videos as inappropriate is just plain stupid. And whose sensitivities are you offending anyway? Religious people don't watch MTV in the first place!!

Someone should get Sumner Redstone to fire this Sami Al-Marzouqi immediately!!

MTV
Posted by Ali, Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday 27 August 2008 at 11:18 UAE time

What happened with the freedom of choice? If i want to celebrate Ramadan then I will but if don't I don't. So is MTV forcing me to become religious?!
If you don't want to watch the channel then don't! What happened to that choice?! Most satellites come with remote controls.

Why Debate
Posted by Ayesha, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 27 August 2008 at 11:07 UAE time

I am not sure what the debate here is for...... If you want to watch music videos there are other channels fulfilling your demands. Watch them. Those who dont want to - dont want too.

Positive move
Posted by Abdullatif, Dubai, U.A.E on Wednesday 27 August 2008 at 10:24 UAE time

I totally support the move by MTV arabia ... It is broadcasting in an Islamic country and the most of the nilesat and arabsat viewers are from the Arab country who respect the month of Ramadan. I hope all the other channels do the same. If we do not respect ourselves how do we expect others to respect us? Good leading MTV - All the arabic music channels needs to follow.

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