Ramadan sees fierce competition among TV stations

One of the most popular stations, Samanyolu TV, broadcasts its iftar program from Eyüp Sultan. The program is presented by Mehmet Özgür, the principal performer of the channel's famous series “Kollama” (Patronage). Named “İftar Time,” the program is broadcast in the streets of the Eyüp district with the participation of ordinary citizens visiting the famous mosque there. Samanyolu TV also hosts different guests every day and features stories from the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the first four caliphs of the Islamic community, as well as Sufi performances.

The station also meets with its viewers at suhoor time, when participants of the program discuss the blessings of the holy month. The most appreciated part of Samanyolu TV's iftar and suhoor programs is the recitation of God's 99 names (Esma'ul Hüsna) by participants in the Turkish Olympics.

In addition to a program's content, the host of the program also plays a significant role in spectators' choices of which particular program to watch. Thus, these two are the key factors influencing TV stations' ratings.

Famous TV announcer Erkan Tan, on TV 8, broadcasts his program from the Ankara streets, a first in the history of the Turkish capital. Tan tours the city street by street and interviews believers on Ramadan and its blessings.

According to Tan, he chose the Turkish capital to broadcast his Ramadan program due to the historic spirit of the city. “For this Ramadan, I chose Ankara as the location of my program because my heart took me to this city. The historical sites and streets of Ankara called me here,” he said. Tan also noted that heavy demand from spectators urged him to continue to host Ramadan programs, which he had previously decided to stop hosting.

Another popular Ramadan program, aired on Kanal 7, is hosted by Mustafa Karataş, an associate professor of theology, and former model Yaşar Alptekin. Viewers can listen to Quran recitation as well as poems and hymns dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad during the program. The station's suhoor program is broadcast by Ömer Döngeloğlu, who tells stories dating back to the rise of Islam and the religion's spread to different nations.

One of the most popular of the “edifying” Ramadan programs is the one hosted by Dr. Nihat Hatipoğlu on Star TV. He hosts both iftar and suhoor programs. The iftar program includes stories from the life of the Prophet Muhammad, explanations of the meanings of chapters of the Quran and live telephone question-and-answer sessions. The suhoor program, on the other hand, includes several prominent guests, including renowned Sufi singers, anecdotes from Islamic history and another question-and-answer session.

While some Ramadan programs are solely instructive -- sermons and Quran recitation -- other generally focus on more lighthearted themes. These programs are not always hosted by religious scholars, but also by such famous figures as Berna Laçin, a famous actress who hosts “Mutfağa Açılan Sofralar” (Tables Opening to the Kitchen) on ATV.

ATV meets with its spectators at suhoor time with Fatih Çıtak. Çıtak bedecks his programs with sights from historic places in various Turkish provinces.

On Kanal A, Turkish classical singer Ertuğrul Erkişi shares the joy of iftar time with his audience. Erkişi's program is followed by “Mesneviden Damlalar” (Drops from Mesnevi) by Tuğrul İnançer. Necmettin Nursaçan, former deputy president of the Religious Affairs Directorate, features stories from the time of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.

After iftar time, Cine 5 offers films about the lives of a number of figures important in Islam. Among these films are “Hz. Meryem” (The Virgin Mary), “Elçi” (The Messenger) and “Ashab-ı Kehf” (Seven Sleepers). The station's iftar and suhoor programs feature scholars who have memorized the Quran. These scholars offer unforgettable recitations from the holy book.

Iftar and suhoor programs broadcast by Mehtap TV are highly religious and instructive. Dr. Fatih Çolak instructs believers about how to read the holy Quran. Professor Emine Yeniterzi allocates a considerable portion of her program to the explanation of the message of mevlid, poems celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

However, Ramadan programs do not receive high interest from viewers, according to a past survey by the A&G Research Company. Evaluating the popularity of last year's Ramadan shows, Adil Gür, the company's chairman, stated that Ramadan programs were not among the most popular 20 shows of the month.

“There are cartoons, sports shows and game shows among the most popular 20 programs, but not a single Ramadan program. This fact serves as a refutation to claims that Turkey is growing more conservative,” Gür stated.