Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International

Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International
Type Broadcast and television network
Country Lebanon
Availability Lebanon
Middle East
Europe
Americas
Australia
Africa
Asia
Owner Group of Lebanese businessmen
Key people
 Pierre El Daher (chairman & CEO)
Launch date
 August 23, 1985 (television network)
Official website
 www.lbcgroup.tv
Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International
Availability
Cable
Numericable (France) Channel 715 (LBC Europe)
IPTV
Freebox TV (France) Channel 579 (LBC Europe)

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (Arabic: المؤسسة اللبنانية للإرسال انترناسيونال‎), widely known as LBCI, is a private television station in Lebanon. LBCI was founded in 1992 by acquiring the assets, liabilities and logo of LBC, an entity founded in 1985 during the Lebanese Civil War by the Lebanese Forces.[1] LBCI went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya (Arabic: الفضائية اللبنانية‎) covering Lebanon, the Arab world, Europe, America, Australia and Africa. Ownership of LBCI is currently in dispute between the Lebanese Forces party and a group of Lebanese businessmen led by the company CEO Pierre El-Daher.

Post-war era

The Lebanese Forces, a militia that had founded LBC in 1985,[1] was militarily and financially weakened by Lebanese civil war which ended in 1990 and its leader Samir Geagea was imprisoned in 1994. In 1992 Pierre El Daher had founded LBCI along with other shareholders and registered it at the Commercial Register of Baabda . El Daher was the driving force for the purchase by LBCI of LBC's assets.

In April 1996, El Daher and other shareholders launched LBCsat a free satellite channel . The new channel was a success, especially to the Lebanese diaspora, disseminated throughout the world.

In 2003, as a result of an agreement between Saleh Kamel, founder of LMH company (Lebanese Media Holding, owner of 49% of LBC SAT and Pac 's shares ) and Al Waleed bin Talal, the latter, through Kingdom, replaced Kamel in LMH.[2]

By the end of 2008, it was decided to increase the capital of LMH considerably. Accordingly, HRH Al-Waleed Bin Talal became the largest shareholder after acquiring the absolute majority in PAC (a content provider for both LBCI and LBC SAT) and LBC SAT, based on an understanding that the capital increase would be invested to improve the programs’ network and upgrade productivity under the supervision of Sheikh Pierre Daher.

In 2010, Rupert Murdoch joined the group and PAC and LBC SAT were merged with Rotana. Rumor was that this merger would improve and develop the group, which seemed an obvious result of the cooperation between the Saudi prince and the owner of the biggest media empire in the world, Rupert Murdoch. These expectations did not materialize.[3]

Al Hayat and LBC SAT merger

At the end of the year 2002, LBC SAT and the London-based Al Hayat newspaper owned by Saudis, merged their news programs.[4] LBC SAT daily news bulletin was called the "Al Hayat-LBC SAT news bulletin". The cooperation ended in 2010.

LBCI ownership battle

The Lebanese Forces, initiated proceedings in Lebanon claiming ownership of LBCI and alleging criminal violations by Mr. El Daher. The Court of Appeal rejected these claims but the Court of Cassation - Criminal Chamber decided to refer the case to the Sole Criminal Judge in Beirut.

The Sole Criminal Judge in Beirut will in due course examine the case as a trial judge and will decide on the substance. His decisions are subject to appeal before the Beirut Court and cassation before the competent court.[5]

LBCI brands

  • LBCI

• LBCI is a local channel for Lebanese viewers broadcasting a variety of programs of different genres.

  • LDC

• Lebanese Diaspora Channel is an international version of LBCI targeted to Lebanese in diaspora countries.

  • LB2 (previously known as LBCI Drama)

• LB2 is a local channel dedicated to the best entertainment shows and Arabic and dubbed series around the clock.

  • LBCI NEWS

• LBCI News is a local channel that broadcasts breaking news live as it happens.

  • LBCI HD

• LBCI HD is the first Lebanese HD channel, broadcasting LBCI programs in high-definition. It used to broadcasts the 10th season of Star Academy Arabia 24/24 , Now LBCI HD is back and exclusively on cablevision broadcasting all the programs in high-definition not just star academy daily 24/24

  • LBC EUROPE

• LBC Europe is an international version of LBCI targeted to Lebanese citizens in Europe.

  • LBC AMERICA

• LBC America is an international version of LBCI targeted to Lebanese citizens in America.

  • LBC AUSTRALIA

• LBC Australia is an international version of LBCI targeted to Lebanese citizens in Australia.

  • LBC ASIA

• LBC Asia is an international version of LBCI targeted to Lebanese citizens in Asia, such as Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, Hongkong, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

  • LBCI 4K

• LBCI 4K is the first Lebanese 4K channel, broadcasting LBCI programs in ultra high-definition it will air soon on osn platform

LBCI has produced many popular shows including Star Academy Arab World, Ya Katel Ya Maktoul (Arabic version of Greed), Miss Lebanon, Hellha wo Ehtalha (Arabic version of French TV Show Fort Boyard), Survivor Middle East, El Wadi (Arabic version of The Farm), The Perfect Bride and Mission Fashion.

Its most famous talk show is Kalam Ennas (Arabic: كلام الناس‎) hosted by Marcel Ghanem. The show, which originally aired on C33, moved to LBC after C33 was shut down in the mid-1990s. Another famous show is BassMat Watan (Arabic: بس مات وطن‎); a pun in Lebanese for either "The smiles of the homeland" or "When the nation died", depending on how people see the joke of this title), a sketch-comedy show that deals with politics and current events.

LBCI personalities

Present

  • Bassam Abou Zaid
  • Dalal Abou Haydar
  • Charbel Paul Khoury
  • Dima Sadek
  • Elize Farah
  • Fadia Dokmak
  • Francois Habchi
  • Ghayath Dibra
  • Malek Maktabi
  • Marcel Ghanem
  • Nicole Hajal
  • Tony Baroud
  • Rima Assaf
  • Sana Nasr
  • Yazbek Wehbe

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Lebanese media coverage of oil and gas sector" (PDF). SKeyes. August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Saudi's Prince Alwaleed Buys 49% Stake In LBCsat from Sheikh Saleh Kamel of Art". Middle East Events. 3 December 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "What is the real story behind PAC?". Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "First merger of TV, print press in Middle East. - Xinhua News Agency". Highbeam.com. 1994-03-10. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
  5. ↑ LBCI: Company will not be affected by the decision of the Court of Cassation LBCI 24 October 2012
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