CAIRO — A new TV series, "Ekhtyar Egbari" (Arabic for "Compulsory Choice"), confirms that social media is no longer just for socializing. Facebook and the like are providing fodder for a dramatic production.
DMC channel launched the series in January on TV and online, and tracking through the end of February shows it has high ratings, especially on YouTube. Several of the 30- to 45-minute episodes hit more than 300,000 views on YouTube within a few days. These ratings are especially strong considering the show isn't a special aired during Ramadan, when people binge on TV series during the fasting month.
The first season, packed with 60 episodes, ends April 5. Early episodes aired while the final ones were still being filmed. Syrian-Argentinian actor Firas Saayed wrote in a March 6 blog post on Facebook that filming was to finish March 9. Series director Khaled Hilmi said in a Feb. 14 press statement that writer Hazem Mitwali was already beginning work on the second season with Tunisian director Majdi al-Samiri and the production companies, Aroma and Radio One Studios.
The fictional series, which was shot in Egypt and Dubai, revolves around three friends — Malek, Yousef and Adam — who work in the field of software, the internet and communication technology. They plot together to ruin the plans, investments and life of rival businessman Ragheb Mansour by hacking his social media accounts and communication technology systems.
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