Research conducted by the Media Monitoring Center (MTM) has shown that in a 16-day period during Ramadan, from Aug. 21 to Sept. 6, a total of 28 TV programs with religious content were aired on the nine TV stations. During these programs, the advertisements of 254 companies were aired for a total time of 79 hours. The study revealed that Kanal 7 broadcasts the most-watched religious programs whereas Show TV receives the greatest number of advertisements for its religious programs.
People usually watch religious programs during iftar (the fast-breaking dinner) and suhoor (the pre-dawn meal). The most popular TV station during Ramadan has been Kanal 7, which broadcasts five different religious programs. According to the MTM list, Kanal 7's “İftar Zamanı” (İftar Time) was the most popular religious program during the first 16 days of the holy month. Kanal 7 aired 3,516 advertisements during its religious programs for a total of 22 hours. Show TV received the greatest number of advertisements for its special programs with religious content, “İslam Evliyaları” (Muslim Saints) and “Kabene Dön” (Return to Kaaba), during Ramadan.
Star TV, which is run by Nihat Hatipoğlu, a professor of theology, ranked second after Kanal 7 with regards to the popularity of its religious programming during both suhoor and iftar and has attracted the attention of viewers. Hatipoğlu's programming attracted 2,416 advertisements during the period when the study was conducted. STV aired the most religious programming during the period, with eight different programs, and ranked second in terms of the number of advertisements it attracted.
Whereas most of the TV stations included in the study increased the number of religious programs they aired this Ramadan, the state-sponsored TRT 1 reduced the number of its religious programs by 56 percent when compared to last Ramadan. Its programs attracted 1,470 advertisements. Meanwhile, the study also showed that, in contrast to last Ramadan, news channels have also broadcast religious programs. The TGRT Haber (TGRT News) and Habertürk news channels have both televised special programs for Ramadan.
