The lunar calendar reshapes what millions of people watch
Every year, the Middle East's television industry undergoes a massive shift as 400 million viewers trade high-octane dramas for family-centric stories that follow the moon's phases.
Television networks across the Middle East and North Africa operate on a cycle that shifts by eleven days every year. During the holy month of Ramadan, when daytime fasting reduces screen time, production houses release high-budget 'musalsalat'—serialized dramas specifically designed for the evening hours when families gather to break their fast. This creates a seasonal monopoly on attention that forces mainstream entertainment to a standstill.
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