MTV in the Middle East
I’ve often wondered what it would take for MTV to clean up its act. Now, we know. The aging music network wants Middle Eastern eyeballs, and it’ll do anything to cater to its audience–including toning down raunchy content and covering up scantily-clad hostesses. If it were America, the libs in charge of MTV would consider this caving in to Neanderthal social conservatives. In the Middle East, it’s considered doing smart business and paying cultural respect:
MTV is hoping hip-hop and reality television tailored and sanitized for a more conservative Middle East will draw young Arabs away from dozens of locally produced music video channels that already dominate the market.
MTV Arabia, which launched over the weekend, will feature 60 percent international music and 40 percent Arabic music, along with local adaptations of the channel’s popular nonmusic shows.
But MTV, which is known for airing provocative videos featuring scantily clad women, says the Arab version of the pop-culture channel will show less bare skin and profanity.
“When we come to people’s homes, we want to earn their respect,” said Abdullatif al-Sayegh, chief executive of Arab Media Group, which along with Viacom’s MTV Networks International owns MTV Arabia. He explained that there will be “culturally sensitive editors going through content of the programming.”
Snortingly (yes, it’s not a real word, but it fits), MTV believes it can peddle hip-hop and R&B videos to the Arab world–as well as a special version of “Pimp My Ride”–without offending anyone in the home of the Religion of Perpetual Outrage:
Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of satellite channels in the region that feature soulful male crooners from the Gulf and female singers from Lebanon and Syria. MTV officials say this is why their channel is focusing on hip-hop and R&B, two music genres that are underserved despite being popular throughout the region.
But to please a more conservative audience, MTV Arabia will tailor some of its programming and keep provocative hip-hop videos to a minimum.
“We hope to provide a platform for Arab youth to break boundaries without disrespecting their tradition and culture,” said Bhavneet Singh, managing director of the Emerging Markets Group, part of MTV Networks International…
…MTV Arabia also will broadcast an Arabic version of the popular car-makeover show “Pimp My Ride,” as well as “Al Helm” (”The Dream”), which is based on the show “Made,” in which MTV transforms awkward teenagers into the successful models or rap stars of their dreams.
Shows in Arabic will be subtitled in English for foreign viewers, channel officials said.
Wonder if any beloved Jihad Rap artists will make it on the channel?
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Trackbacks
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MTV could make a fortune off Lawrence Welk reruns.
For some Muslims perhaps Liberace would do better.
Most likely Farmer John products would be out for program sponsors while things that go bang R us would be pretty hot.
For rap remix I guess the lyrics will go from “I capped that MFr” to “I beheaded my blasphemous sister”.
Can there be that much difference, really?
It’s all a rouse, were really gunna pipe in Gospel Music.
Maybe “Pimp My Technical”?
PTL!
The former President of Iran (I couldn’t spell it even if I could remember it) was criticized as being soft on the west because he was “afraid of the great satan”.
He responded to his critics as such; (paraphrasing)
“Jets & rockets do not frighten me for I am a man of God. MTV however frightens my very soul”.
Pimp my camel is funny for sure, but MTV has the potential to change things quite a bit in a society where women are forbidden to drive.
Think about it, this is a good thing.
Boomer, you are responsible for my horrid waste of a mouthful of Lagavulin! And, as a pro, I don’t spew very often.
Save my life, I’m goin’ down for the last time…
#105 - SNL Funny about IRANIAN mini me…. for laughs.
Should be a hit on M (jihad) TV..
No Gays in Iran
Leave the driving to Mahmoud!
No scantily clad women for sure. However, given the level of promiscuous permissiveness when it comes to the beasts of the field, a whole new avenue may open for many of our music of the 70’s through the 90’s. Imagine these updated versions of old tunes:
Ewe Are So Beautiful
Wham Bam Thank You Lamb!
Bleat It!
I Only Have Eyes for Ewe
And on and on. Fertile ground, I’s say.
#100, No contest. All true.
But if MTV can do for them what it has done to us lol!
Your principals are higher than mine,
I say the end does justify the means.
Bear #99, Laughing at Rat Stevens. Was the “Peace Trains” he sung about the trains in Spain? Just wondering.
MTV is poison, pure and simple. Anyone watching it or allowing their kids to watch it is a moron. Yes I said moron. And yes I am holier than thou.
112, so giving it to our enemies is bad because?
Any of you guys heard of Qawwali or Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn?
Qawwali may be the best thing to come out of the islamic cultural milieu since its inception about 1300 years ago.
In a debate on Al-Jazeera between a Syrian secularist and a Saudi imam, the Syrian pointed out that the deceased righteous are greeted not only by 72 virgins, but by boys as well. (You might be able to find it by searching the MEMRI website. MEMRI translates these things into English.) The debate degenerated into a volley of insults.
Anyway, this revelation opens up new possibilities on Arabic MTV.
#114, how about Haifa Wehbe, the Dolly Parton of Lebanon (physically speaking)?
MTV in Arabia hmmmm. I say, that most of the parents will not allow their kids to watch. Not holding my breath that this is going to change a generation for Western Values.
If 60% of the music is ‘international’ music, this could be latin music, etc. and does not necessarily mean it will be the same ‘crap’ MTV gives us good ole’ US Citizens.
Although, pimp my camel will be hugely popular. I think it would even be popular here, too.
Man, did I miss out on some fun.
Bear and moon shadow - HAHA. My favorite bomber line would be:
“and if I ever lose my mouth
all my teeth, north and south”
I wonder if the Rat Man sends back the money for “Morning Has Broken”? It is a Christian Hymn!
American popular culture is the most subversive force on earth. Everyone knows this. If the camel could get it’s nose under Islam’s tent — you will pardon the strained metaphor — even in a sonsiderably weakened form, it could cause all kinds of havoc for the exalted rulers of the religion of peace.
Let’s face it, we are losing culturally as well as demographically. We are losing badly. We should not turn our noses up on this, but proceed to bomb the lot of them with iPods and Zunes. Our greatest hope is to out think our enemies. Surely we would be foolish to throw away our most potent weapon.
I know it’s the wrong network but Queer Eye for the Islamo Guy would be huge.
“I think a nice ecru cashmere sweater would look good on you while you beat your wife.”