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29 March 2024

Egyptians are Arab televisions' favourite presenters, says survey

Lebanese presenter Zahi Wahbi. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Dima Hamadeh

Egyptian presenters dominate the list of Arab World's most favourite presenters, with nine out of the top 10 being Egyptians and Zahi Wahbi, Lebanese, presenter of Khallik bel Beit show broadcast on Future channel, grabbed the ninth slot.

While compiling the list of most popular presenters in the Arab World, Good News TV named Amr Adeeb to be the top anchor. He topped the list of 50 most powerful and prominent TV anchor in Arab satellite channels. He is the presenter of Al Qahera Al Youm programme broadcast on Al Youm Orbit channel.

According to film analyst Alaa Karkouti, the editor in chief of the magazine, this list is "a new initiative from Good News TV towards the documentation of the current state of the Arab satellite TV channels world with an accurate vision on the future of these screens."

Karkouti said the "most powerful" means the most influential and catchy for the mass viewers. "It's not a list about the best or the finest, which explains the exclusion of some very renowned names like Moufid Fawzy, Nashwa Al Ruwaini or Halima Boland, which might be shocking for many of the persons involved in the satellite TV field."

Emirates Business followed with a dip stick survey of the audience's preferences.

An executive in a media buying agency who asked not to be named stressed the need for an independent third party analysis of the media scene.

"Individual efforts could be misleading, because they do not have enough funds to do the right sampling. TV meters are not available in the Arab World, which makes it less likely to achieve an accurate ranking. We have to be careful in relying on such studies while advising our clients to buy into a certain medium or specific TV programme."

Samah Hamid, a Dubai-based online journalist, said: "The survey criteria are definitely unfair to some of the remarkable media professionals. A TV station's popularity can also affect the anchor. Some TV channels are not a popular as others, based on their strength, outreach, programming and marketing. Most advertising pools among three or four top stations, with top programmes on such stations receiving the lion's share of the ad spend."

A media expert at Dubai Press Club said the region needed more qualitative research based on professional criteria. "This poses a serious question about the way audiences in the Arab World choose their viewership preferences and the creativity in TV programming."

The ranking started by selecting a total of around 150 presenters of TV programmes from the majority of the Arab satellite TV channels, with the condition of having a significant presence throughout the year 2008. The final list was selected based on four different conditions, namely constancy on screen, ability to attract TV ads, popularity measured by the number of the articles of him on search engines or Youtube and the evaluation of the magazine's team of editors.

Mahmoud Saad, who hosts Al Beit Beitak show on the Egyptian satellite channel, came in second, Islamic preacher Amr Khaled third. Famous writer and journalist Mohamed Hassanin Heikal came in fourth position with his programme With Heikal on Al Jazeera channel, being the eldest of the 50 contenders.

Mona El Shazly, host of Al Ashera Masa'an on Dream channel came in fifth, followed by Hamdi Qandil, host of Qalam Rosas which has just recently moved to Al Lybeya channel after being broadcast all along 2008 on Dubai channel.

Sports media anchor Ahmed Shobeir, presenter of Al Mala'eb Al Youm on Al Hayah channel came seventh, followed by Moataz Al Demerdash with his programme 90 Dakika on Al Mehwar Egyptian channel, Zahi Wehbi ninth, then Gamal Enayet host of Ala Al-Hawa programme on Al Safwa Orbit channel.

Saudi anchor Torky Al Dokheil on Al Arabiya was the ranked top presenter in the GCC, achieving 28th place in the list. Suliman Al Hatlan, host of Hadith Al Khalij of Al Hurra channel was ranked 31st while in the 39th place came Dr Fawzeya Al Dorei the anchor of Doctor Fawz on Al Ray channel, the only Kuwaiti in the list.

Some very well-known talk show presenters appeared in positions further down the list, posing a question on the popularity of political and current issues programmes among Arab audiences.

Marcel Ghanem anchor of Kalam El Nas show on LBC channel was in the 27th rank. Tony Khalifa with his programme Lel Nashr broadcast on New TV channel coming in the 30th place, Ghassan ben Gedo in 34th place for his show Howar Maftouh broadcast also on Al Jazeera channel and Malek Maktabi, who achieved the 35th place with his programme Ahmar Bel Khat El Arid on LBC channel.

Good News TV magazine is an Arab monthly publication since April 2008, published by Good News Group Company, the leading media and cinema production house in the Arab world, chaired by the renowned media figure Emad El Din Adeeb.

 

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