It’s a close ratings battle this Ramadan between Morocco’s two major TV networks, Al Aoula and 2M. According to the first weekly reports released by the Media Audience Measurement Center, viewership was tracked across three key periods: March 2–4, March 4–10, and March 11–17, 2025 (based on the Gregorian calendar).
In the early days of Ramadan, Al Aoula trailed 2M during prime time—defined as the highly coveted 6:25 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. time slot. This window coincides with iftar (the breaking of the fast) and features a heavy lineup of series and soap operas, typically spanning three hours of programming.
Chasing the Largest Consumer Audience
During the first three days of Ramadan, 2M held the lead with a 34.7% prime time audience share, compared to 31.8% for Al Aoula. But that trend quickly reversed in the following two weeks. The quality of programming likely played a major role in this shift, as viewers reassessed their preferences after sampling both channels’ Ramadan lineups.
By March 18, Al Aoula had overtaken 2M, capturing nearly 35% of prime time audience share—a gain of 5 points at its rival’s expense.
This ratings race has major financial stakes, especially in advertising. Brands and advertisers concentrate their commercials between 6:25 p.m. and 9:10 p.m., where ad spots are typically more expensive due to higher viewership. The aim: reach the largest consumer base possible. For example, on Thursday, March 13, more than 10.2 million viewers tuned into Al Aoula at 7 p.m. to watch the drama Ana Wiyak («You and Me»)—many of them still seated at the table for iftar.
Prime time content this season also highlights a clear trend:
Scripted drama dominates the ratings. Since the start of Ramadan, the top three programs across both Al Aoula and 2M have been fictional series or soap operas.
Despite the dominance of entertainment, Al Aoula’s Arabic-language news broadcast has managed to break into the top five, despite airing outside of prime time. Between 8 and 9 million viewers tuned in to catch up on national news between March 2 and March 18—covering the first three weeks of Ramadan.
Meanwhile on 2M, the reality show “Le Meilleur Pâtissier” (The Best Baker) has performed notably well, securing the final spot in the channel’s top rankings twice, with 7.5 and 8.5 million viewers, respectively.
Across both networks, one insight is clear: during Ramadan, viewers prioritize entertainment. While some continue to criticize the overall quality of TV programming, the popularity of light, escapist content suggests that audiences are looking to relax and unwind after a day of fasting.
Faiçal FAQUIHI
