Elias Khoury, the CEO of Alaraby 2 speaking during the press conference, while Joseph Al Husseini, Director of Acquisition for Alaraby 2, looks on.
Doha: Alaraby Television Network yesterday announced the introduction of its programme line-up on its Alaraby 2 channel for the oncoming Ramadan season during a press conference held at its headquarters in Lusail.
The line-up, which is aimed at providing the best of TV experiences during the holy month of Ramadan, consists of four Arab series and new programmes, including the daily live programme Ahlan Ramadan.
The list of programmes, which have been developed over several months, includes the series Ibtassim Ayouha Algeneral (Smile, General), starring the Syrian star Maxim Khalil, written by Samer Radwan, and directed by Aroa Mohammed.
The series depicts a bloody power struggle between the president of an Arab state and his military brother.
There is also Rissalat AlEmam (The Scholar’s Message), starring the Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabawy, with a screenplay by Mohamed Hisham Obayya and directed by Leith Hajo.
It highlights the most significant milestones in the life of Imam Shafi’i, an influential Islamic scholar whose school of thought is widely followed in a number of Islamic countries.
The series Al A’alya (The Folks) was written by Noor Nagy and directed by Walid Alolafy as the first step towards presenting Yemeni stories to Arab viewers through a conflict between a village governor who fabricates a moral case against the daughter of a tribal sheikh to blackmail him.
Also on the list is the new season of the comedy series Jalta (Heart Attack), which continues to follow the funny situations of its characters in their noisy daily lives.
Speaking at the event, Elias Khoury, the CEO of Alaraby 2, noted that Alaraby Television Network was established in London, and he highlighted its move to an Arab country in the city of Lusail in Qatar last year as another major milestone.
“We cannot over emphasise the endeavour of Alaraby 2 as an infotainment channel, which aims at providing a variety of programmes such as culture, tourism, heritage, drama programmes, and documentaries, following a modern vision catering for the different tastes and interests across the Arab world,” he said.
Khoury added that Alaraby 2 is keen to create a different model based on high-quality content that addresses the Arab family.
“There is a gap and a lack of content that strikes a balance between the entertainment aspect and nourishing the passion of the viewers for culture and knowledge. This difficult space was our choice from the beginning and the challenge we decided to face,” he said. On his part, the Director of Acquisition for Alaraby 2, Joseph Al Husseini, highlighted the network’s bold new programming and the four premiere TV series.
“What Alaraby 2 broadcasts is consistent in form and content with the values and vision of the channel, which is to be aligned with the voice of the Arab people. Our drama series is the best example of Alaraby 2 being a unique platform that stands out for its boldness and depth of disclosure. The TV series Ibtassim Ayouha Algeneral, for example, is an unprecedented step in the drama industry, in a time where viewers are more aware of the challenges associated with producing a similar series and broadcasting it under the dominance of censorship, and with the prevalence of a considerable number of Arab TV stations that prioritise commercial interests over artistic quality and merit,” he said.
During the press meet, the full promotional videos for the four series were shown for the first time, and the content of the live programme Ahlan Ramadan was revealed in the presence of the Alaraby 2 presenters, who will accompany viewers on a daily live entertainment journey, including competitions and prizes for winners.
