From left: Fatma al-Remaihi, director of Ajyal Youth Film Festival & Programmes, DFI; Everette E Dennis, dean and CEO of NU-Q; Justin D Martin, assistant professor in Residence, Journalism Programme, NU-Q and Robb Wood, media and external development strategist, NU-Q.

Qatar has the highest percentage of nationals, among countries where the “Entertainment Media Use in the Middle East” survey was carried out, who agree that more should be done to preserve cultural traditions.

While the average across the region was 78%, in Qatar it was 94%, according to the survey.

The study was conducted by Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), in partnership with Doha Film Institute (DFI), in six nations — Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and the UAE.

The findings, which were released yesterday, show that Qatar has the lowest percentage of nationals in the six nations who watch TV produced in their own country (average-94%, Qatar-51%). At the same time, Qatar has the highest percentage of nationals who watch TV in English (average-18%, Qatar-39%).

Qatar also has the lowest percentage of nationals who watch online content from their own country (average-81%, Qatar-29%) as well as the lowest percentage of nationals who watch films from their own country (average-78%, Qatar-15%), according to the survey.

Meanwhile, Qatar has the highest percentage of people who watch sport as a favourite genre of television programming (average-20%, Qatar-30%), the findings reveal.

The survey also shows that Qatar has the highest percentage of people who believe that in-person/telephone conversations have an influence on their entertainment choices (average-54%, Qatar-73%). However, Qatar has the lowest percentage of people who believe that advertising has an influence on their entertainment choices (average-52%, Qatar-31%). Another key finding is that Qatar has the highest percentage of people who believe that exposure to entertainment can lead to poor health and obesity in children (average-45%, Qatar-65%).

The Qatar-specific findings will be discussed in detail at the Qatar Media Industries Forum, an NU-Q initiative that brings together Qatar’s leading media executives to discuss key issues in Qatari and regional media industries, on May 5.

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