US economy slows to 1.6% in Q1 of '24 – BEA    EMX appoints Al-Jarawi as deputy chairman    Mexico's inflation exceeds expectations in 1st half of April    GAFI empowers entrepreneurs, startups in collaboration with African Development Bank    Egyptian exporters advocate for two-year tax exemption    Egyptian Prime Minister follows up on efforts to increase strategic reserves of essential commodities    Italy hits Amazon with a €10m fine over anti-competitive practices    Environment Ministry, Haretna Foundation sign protocol for sustainable development    After 200 days of war, our resolve stands unyielding, akin to might of mountains: Abu Ubaida    World Bank pauses $150m funding for Tanzanian tourism project    China's '40 coal cutback falls short, threatens climate    Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23    Amir Karara reflects on 'Beit Al-Rifai' success, aspires for future collaborations    Ministers of Health, Education launch 'Partnership for Healthy Cities' initiative in schools    Egyptian President and Spanish PM discuss Middle East tensions, bilateral relations in phone call    Amstone Egypt unveils groundbreaking "Hydra B5" Patrol Boat, bolstering domestic defence production    Climate change risks 70% of global workforce – ILO    Health Ministry, EADP establish cooperation protocol for African initiatives    Prime Minister Madbouly reviews cooperation with South Sudan    Ramses II statue head returns to Egypt after repatriation from Switzerland    Egypt retains top spot in CFA's MENA Research Challenge    Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    EU pledges €3.5b for oceans, environment    Egypt forms supreme committee to revive historic Ahl Al-Bayt Trail    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    Acts of goodness: Transforming companies, people, communities    President Al-Sisi embarks on new term with pledge for prosperity, democratic evolution    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Egypt starts construction of groundwater drinking water stations in South Sudan    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Uppingham Cairo and Rafa Nadal Academy Unite to Elevate Sports Education in Egypt with the Introduction of the "Rafa Nadal Tennis Program"    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Watch It: Egyptian Netflix sparks controversy with start of TV shows month
More than 99% surveyed by Daily News Egypt agreed that that they will not subscribe in this application, others believe it good for selling series
Nada Deyaa' Published in Daily News Egypt on 07 - 05 - 2019

For Middle Eastern societies, Ramadan is not only the month of fasting, worshiping, strengthening family ties and social solidarity when it comes to distributing food to those who are in need, but on a larger scale, Ramadan is also the month of entertainment and TV series. For ages, TV shows have been an inseparable part of the holy month; large numbers of productions wait for the season in order to compete over grabbing audiences' attention. However, this year brings a different aspect when it comes to watching drama shows online, with the start of ‘Watch It.'
Watch It is a mobile application which offers audiences the possibility of watching 15 Ramadan series and a number of TV shows that will not be uploaded on YouTube. Egyptian Media, the country's largest, most dominating media services agency, and Synergy production company which has taken over the scene of drama production shows announced that they will not broadcast any of their TV shows online except through Watch It.
The Egyptian Netflix is being offered to people with a monthly subscription of EGP 99, and for EGP 999 annually.
Unlike previous seasons, where producers aired their shows on YouTube right after their TV screening, making use of YouTube ads, and considering the number of watches as a success indication, only a few drama shows are uploaded this season with this option.
The announcement was met with an anger wave, and a large amount of criticism from users, who stated they will boycott those series.
More than 99% surveyed by Daily News Egypt agreed that that they will not subscribe in this application. With different reasons, the majority united over that they are not willing to pay for a platform in order for it to allow them to watch Egyptian drama.
TV shows are known to have long breaks that would sometimes reach up to 20 minutes each, throughout a 40 minute-long episode.
Heba Wagdi stated through a Facebook comment that she watches some of the drama shows at the end of day through YouTube, as it saves the wasted time of the ads, however, the content of the shows is not appealing enough for her to pay money for it.
"There are many TV series screened this season, we can watch any other replacement. At the end, I believe they all have no real value to watch," she said.
Large numbers of people followed Wagdi's path, stating that they are used to watching the shows, just as a free entertainment tool, however, they are not willing to pay money in order to watch them, as -according to them- "they mostly come empty of value, increased vulgarity, and rudeness of people with their scripts."
While many believed that, others stated that they are willing to pay money in order to watch the shows, however, not the ones produced by both companies.
"If I am about to pay, it is better for me to subscribe in Netflix, which offers me a variety of real interesting content, including Arabic content," a Facebook user said, while another questioned if the Egyptian market was deeply studied before this decision.
"Seriously did they even study the market; did they check how much Netflix costs?!" Dina Erfan questioned.
Magda Khalil, another Facebook user stated that she is willing to wait until Ramadan is over when all the series will be repeated in the same TV channels for free, with less advertisements.
From another point of view Wala Taha stated that the decision is "commercially wrong. These series are not exclusive, so why should I pay for it while I can simply watch it anywhere!"
On the other hand, those who accepted the idea, and showed their acceptance to pay, wondered about another aspect of the service. So, reports state that the application has been downloaded 10,000 times. However, users stated that it is not working properly.
Radwa Hesham expressed on social media that she thinks "it is fine if they are providing a good service with no ads. However, the internet service in Egypt is bad and apparently their application is not working, and this makes it for me a scam given the current situation."
Following the same path is Sarah Abdul-Razik who stated that, "TV shows are the only thing Egyptians are good at, and this will be of good use to sell to other Arabs in the whole world. I just hope it is properly implemented."

Clic here to read the story from its source.