Ramadan is a time of blessings, prayers, and peace. All Muslim countries turn on a unique colour as soon as the Holy month starts and everywhere we see specific traditions being followed. Muslim countries also see a shift in television programming after the commencement of the month of blessings. The same trend is seen in Pakistan where all the television channels change their tone and tenor. Things have changed a lot in the past few years and the colours of Ramadan have not been the same as they used to be.
PTV used to be the only channel Pakistanis had a few decades ago and Ramadan had a very different feel in the golden era of PTV. People used to get the news of the new moon through PTV. There used to be instant deletion of any music from the channel. The presenters would all wear dupattas and suddenly there were special programs. Taraweeh and Tilawat from Makkah were broadcast and Ramadan Mahaafil from all over the country were telecasted on PTV. Other programs also mellowed down and coloured in the Ramadan spirits. Most of the Naats we all love today were broadcast during Ramadan.
The current era of Ramadan also sees different kinds of programs but commercialism and capitalism has unfortunately enveloped the Holy month and it is all about promoting brands now. Here is how the Ramadan transmissions have changed over the years:
The Hosting
Ramadan transmissions have become a staple for all the channels now and they even fight for TRPs. It is less about knowledge and more about ratings. The hosting of these shows is also questioned a lot. Though we have seen many actors hosting these transmissions and they largely remain respectful, we have seen hosts like Iqrar ul Hassan who keeps getting targetted for his personal life choices throughout the year, and celebrities like Veena Malik who have done a show like Astaghfar for Ramadan. The gimmicry unfortunately has become a part of the package and you cannot escape it.
Humans As Props
Ramadan transmission also came up with the idea of reaching out to different demographics. Initially, we saw children’s segments being introduced to appeal to the younger generation. In old times, children used to participate in PTV programs which is a tradition that got lost over the years. This new idea was re-introduced of having kids to be a part of the main programming but now these children have become props to get TRPs. Every channel has a group of kids used to make viral content.
Weird Segments
Recently Ramadan transmissions have seen a rising trend of weird conversations bordering on inappropriate and these are running on live television in programs that are supposed to be religious. They are completely unnecessary and should not be broadcast on live television.
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Peak Commercialism
Ramadan has become an opportunity for commercialism for all the channels. From the clothes that the hosts are wearing to their handwash and the oil they are putting in their recipes, everything is sponsored and all these sponsors are shown a hundred times on the screen even if it is a Naat segment or a segment with scholars.
Brainrot Masala Dramas
Entertainment is an important part of one’s life and having good family shows to watch is a must. We got Suno Chanda which ended up becoming a mega hit with the audience as the drama had a Ramadan background and some fun banter which lightened up the mood. We also had some really good Ramadan dramas after that but now this has become a formula for selling brainrot comedy and unnecessary love stories every year. The shows are not even getting the same amount of love anymore and each year we are seeing more criticism coming towards these shows which have nothing related to Ramadan and this was not a practice in the past.
Game Shows
Game shows like Jeeto Pakistan have become staples of entertainment during Ramadan, in contrast to the more subdued shows like Bazm-e-Tariq-Aziz that were popular in the past. This shift has sparked mixed feelings among viewers, leading to ongoing debates on social media about whether these game shows should continue to air.
The growing demand from sponsors and channels for commercialization has harmed the peaceful spirit that was once a hallmark of Ramadan programming. If channels want to capture the attention of younger audiences, they need to improve their approach rather than relying on the same formula repeatedly.
