Production of soap operas meant to broadcast during the holy month of Ramadan was ample, but faced a marketing crisis against the backdrop of war ripping the country apart, Syrian drama sources said.
“About 25 Syrian series were produced this year, but market demand was disappointing as Arab channels were shy in making orders, unlike previous seasons," a Syrian drama consultant, who requested anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He added that the recent launch of ‘Lana’ (Arabic for ‘us’) channel on the advent of Ramadan did not salvage the situation.
Many Syrian award-level actors now suffer promoting their shows after having professed deep political opinions that were shunned across the board of Arab countries and Syrian refugees.
"The reason for no Arab channel buying the works of Salaf Fawakherji is her expressing being fiercely pro-regime," the consultant said.
Lana kept to it a limited number of modern-day series, most notably shows like “Waq Waq,” “Rosana” and “Tarjman Ashwaq.”
The drama consultant added that Arab channels now favor Arab productions which involve Syrian actors, such as “Alheiba 2” (Arabic for ‘prestige’) starring Taim Hassan, or and Tareeq (Arabic for ‘road’).
More so, the controversial Syrian regime is seeking to make up the losses impacting the drama industry by taking offered series for local and private broadcast.
"Syria TV", "Syrian Drama TV ", "Sama TV " and "LANA TV" are the most popular local Syrian broadcasters to aid in compensating for the loss in Arab channels demand for Syrian drama productions.
Syrian Drama TV is scheduled to air the following 10 shows, ‘Fawda’(Arabic for chaos), ‘Wahim’(Arabic for illusion), ‘Rai’hat Arrouh’(Arabic for soul scent), ‘Tarjman Ashwaq’ (Arabic for translator of longing), ‘Harem El Shawish’ (Arabic for the sergeant’s harem ), ‘Ghadban’(Arabic for enraged), ‘Qisma wa Hob’ (Arabic for fate and love), ‘Yawmiat Al Mukhtar’ (Arabic for diaries of a mayor).
