Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation

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Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International
Type Broadcast and television network
Country Lebanon
Availability Lebanon
Arab World
Europe
Australia
America
Slogan ...El Ossa Kella!
(Arabic: ...القصة كلها!‎)
Owner Pierre El Daher
Launch date August 23, 1985 (television network)
Official website www.lbci.com

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (Arabic: المؤسسة اللبنانية للإرسال انترناسيونال‎), widely known as LBCI, is the first private television station in Lebanon. LBCI was founded in 1992 and acquired the assets of LBC, an entity founded in 1985 during the Lebanese civil war. LBCI went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya (Arabic: الفضائية اللبنانية‎) covering the Arab World, Europe, America and Australia. Currently, LBCI ranks number one in Lebanon holding the highest viewership rates.[1] LBCI's capital is 100% by prominent Lebanese business men.

Contents

Post-war era [edit]

The Lebanese Forces a militia that had founded LBC in 1985, was militarily and financially weakened by Lebanese civil war which ended in 1990 and it's leader Dr Samir Geagea was imprisoned in 1994. In 1992 Sheikh 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 HRH 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 [edit]

Al Hayat LBC SAT logo

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 [edit]

The Lebanese Forces, a fierce militia during the Lebanese civil war and now a political party headed by Samir Geagea who was released from prison in 2005 following an amnesty law, 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 [edit]

  • LBC International:
  • LBCI DRAMA:
LBC Europe logo
  • LBC EUROPE:

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

LBC America logo
  • LBC AMERICA

• LBC America is an international version of LBC targeted to Lebanese citizens in America. As of 2012, the channel has been available to watch on myTV's platform[6]

LBC Australia logo
  • LBC AUSTRALIA

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

LBC Nagham logo


Popular programs [edit]

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: ب س م ا ت و ط ن‎; 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.

LBC personalities [edit]

Present [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ LBCI rates as the most-watched TV channel in Lebanon during 2012
  2. ^ "Saudi’s Prince Alwaleed Buys 49% Stake In Lbcsat From Sheikh Saleh Kamel Of Art". MiddleEastEvents.com. 2003-12-03. Retrieved 2012-09-12. 
  3. ^ "What is the real story behind PAC?". Retrieved 2013-01-08. 
  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
  6. ^ http://varietyarabia.com/Docs.Viewer/f2754bec-9c10-41e6-9d8c-30362f5a40fb/default.aspx

External links [edit]
Terrestrial
Television
Satellite and Cable
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