Arab Television: Beyond Al Jazeera

Marwan Kraidy, Assistant Professor, American University

While great attention is being given to "Al Jazeera", the influence of entertainment programs on Arab satellite television should not be overlooked. Game shows, soap operas and reality programs are massively followed in the Middle East and are popular subjects for debate about changing social customs and political attitudes. Much of the discussion about modernity and tradition centers on these programs. Marwan Kraidy describes their effect.