"The Qur'an Academy has proved a resounding success," Abdel Razik Al-Hayan, a Moroccan media expert, told IslamOnline.net Sunday, October 15.

"The program's surging popularity is rarely achieved by a program aired by terrestrial Moroccan TV channels, which are eclipsed by Arab satellite channels," he said.

The "Talents in Fine-tuning the Noble Qur'an" has become the first religious "reality TV" in Morocco and is known among the Moroccans as the "Qur'an Academy" because of its popularity.

However, the Qur'an Academy comes in sharp contrast to the Star Academy, one of the hottest incarnations of reality TV in the Arab world, which was harshly criticized amid cries of immorality.

In the program, hundreds of children of different age brackets are competing in reciting the Noble Qur'an accurately through multi-phase contests organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs nationwide.

The contesters go through different rounds of competition until only a handful qualify for the final phase.

The qualifiers take part in some sort of a reality TV as they appear on screens while, for instance, having iftar with their families and studying.

On the last day of Ramadan, the recitation of the competitors are evaluated by a three-member panel.

The announcement of results is traditionally followed by a ceremony of Munshideen (singers of religious songs).

Talents

Atiq Banshkir, another media expert, said talents of the children are the keyword of the program's success.

"The program has got a solid foothold on the map of programs of TV channels during Ramadan," he told IOL.

"It all started with an ardent desire for change and variety to meet the varying tastes of the audience in," he said.

Banshkir said religious programs are still not having enough share of airtime, adding that launching similar programs (like the Qur'an Academy), would attract more audience.

"It is high time media officials in this country gave due attention to religious programs and gave them the same airtime given to concerts and parties," he added.

Source: Islamonline.net