The decision by Morocco’s public broadcaster 2M to schedule four Turkish series during Ramadan has triggered a wave of criticism on social media, after the channel allocated key time slots to imported dramas, including prime time, traditionally the main battleground for Moroccan productions in the year’s biggest drama season.
Under the published schedule, the Turkish series “Hadik Hayatk” is set to air daily at 8 p.m., the slot when Moroccan viewers typically follow new domestic shows right after iftar, a time considered central to national drama’s ability to secure strong ratings.
2M also programmed “Aailati” one hour before iftar, “Al Amanah” at 3 p.m., and “Khyout Al Qadar” at 11 p.m., giving Turkish drama four separate windows across the day and pushing Moroccan series into a secondary position, according to critics.
Commentators said the move marks a shift in Ramadan programming strategy and raises questions about the future of local production if foreign content expands into peak viewing hours.
Moroccan critic and writer Abdelkrim Wakrim described the approach as one of the “farces” of Moroccan television channels, arguing that broadcasting a dubbed Turkish series every day in prime time throughout Ramadan is unprecedented. Writing on Facebook, Wakrim said national channels previously treated prime time as a protected Ramadan space for local production, while other Arab broadcasters continue to strengthen domestic output during the month.
A source cited by Hespress said dubbed Turkish productions, despite their cost, remain cheaper than Moroccan series. The same source pointed to their long episode counts, often exceeding 100 episodes, making them an economically efficient option because they can fill daily schedules for extended periods without commissioning new local work.
Industry professionals said the issue is not only financial but also cultural, warning that sidelining Moroccan drama during Ramadan sends a damaging signal for the sector. They noted that local series, though more expensive, generate jobs for actors and technicians, develop writing and directing skills, and reinforce cultural identity for audiences who see Ramadan as a key moment for nationally rooted storytelling.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.