Electoral programs compete with Ramadan soap series

Candidates for the coming parliamentary elections appear in talk shows every day on television channels these days, competing with special Ramadan programs and drama series. Experts and academics, interviewed by KUNA, affirm that election-related programs and news have dominated broadcasts during the fasting month, praising themes and quality of these programs that address causes of both ordinary citizens and nominees. Dr. Munawer Al-Rajehi, a media professor at Kuwait University, said the electoral television programs "constitute an effective art of the media and advertisement and a means for promoting the nominees. "The television programs and talk shows constitute some of the advertising techniques that are very effective in luring the voters and affecting their convictions and winning their ballots." Dr. Al-Rajehi cautioned that broadcast of a large number of soap and drama series during Ramadan may distract the watcher from electoral issues. Some voters, preoccupied with Ramadan social and family duties, choose to follow up on issues of their potential nominees through the television, he said, affirming that nominees who have strong convincing techniques are able to lure a large number of prospected voters. Official and private satellite channels serve both the candidates and voters and constitute the linkage between the two sides, Dr. Al-Rajehi said, indicating that some people focus on watching the electoral programs bearing in mind that they can watch the soap series after the fasting month. Sociology professor Dr. Yaacoub Al-Kanderi said most people during Ramadan watch television for entertainment and the channels compete to attract the largest number possible of spectators. A nominee's success in reaching the audience largely depends on his (her) education and knowledge of the psyche of the watchers. Television interviews constitute a good opportunity for the new nominees to present their profile and their manifestos to a wide segment of the society. Dr. Ayed Al-Mannaa, a political sciences professor at Kuwait University, said luring a large segment of spectators to a TV electoral program largely depends on credibility of the themes presented and importance of the subjects debated, in addition to the technique of running the show and ways of forwarding the questions. He cautioned that a nominee using the TV must refrain from excessive elaboration to avoid redundancy. On hosting two contending candidates, he said "this is a double-edge weapon, where the watcher can easily compare the two and pin point the points of weakness in each of them." Dr. Hamed Al-Abdullah, a political sciences professor, said soap series are broadcast during Ramadan because most people prefer to stay indoor. He advised nominees using the TV to be prepared for such presentation and be able to address various issues of public concern.