الملخص الإنجليزي
Start and evolution of Omani TV Drama during the period from 1976 - 2018
and attitudes of University Students towards it
Researcher: Shamsa Salim Abdullah Albadi
The Study aimed at documenting the start and evolution of Omani TV drama and
measuring the attitudes of University students towards it. The study depended on both
historical methodology and media survey methodology. It used the tool of historical
analysis of all available TV drama production documents and sources throughout 42
years; namely since the inception of Omani TV drama in 1976 till the end of 2018.
A survey to measure the attitudes of Omani youth towards Omani TV drama was
conducted during Spring 2019 on a sample of 381 students from the following
Universities: Sultan Qaboos University, Sohar University, Dhofar University, Nizwa
University, Al-Sharqiyah University, and Al-Buraimi University.
The Study resulted into a number of findings. First, TV drama in the Sultanate of
Oman dates back to 1976. Moreover, TV drama production in the Sultanate underwent
many phases. In the seventies of the last century, the artistic aspects were modest and
there was a shortage of human resources. In the eighties, 23 TV drama series were
produced, mostly riddles and comedy. As time passed, TV drama witnessed
improvements, both at the artistic level and in the number of screen writers, directors
and actors/actresses. Therefore, in the nineties, 25 TV drama series were produced, in
addition to 6 episodes, mostly tragic. In that decade, the system of 'executive
producer' was employed for the first time in Omani TV drama production.
The first decade of the present millennium witnessed abundancy in Omani TV
drama production, through the production of 57 TV drama series and 20 drama
episodes. But this progress declined drastically in the second decade (2014-2018),
where only 6 series were produced.
About the attitudes of the Omani youth towards Omani TV drama, the study found
out that more than half (52%) of the sample surveyed watch Omani series with varying
rates, while 48% do not watch them entirely. TV was among the main media for those
surveyed to watch Omani series. Females are more inclined to watch comedy and
social series than males, who prefer watching series of historical nature.
The Study has also revealed that the primary motive of those surveyed to watch
Omani series is amusement and entertainment. However, the most important
gratification attained by watching those series is to spend enjoyable time with members
of their families. The Study has indicated a relatively positive attitude by the surveyed
youth towards the performance of the actors, the artistic elements, the dialect used and
the topics dealt with in the Omani TV series. The most important recommendations
at the artistic level are to select series writers rather meticulously and to improve
directing methods.
