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Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International

Television network in Lebanon

Summary

Television network in Lebanon

Field	Value
name	Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International
logo	Logo LBC International (Lebanon).png
logo_size	150px
logo_caption	Logo used since 2012
type	Terrestrial television network
country	Lebanon
headquarters	Adma, Lebanon
owner	See Ownership
key_people	Pierre El Daher (chairman & CEO)
launch_date	(television network)
website
terr_serv_1	Cablevision (Lebanon)
terr_chan_1	Back to Basic package - General (Pay television)
online_serv_1	Cablevision+ (IPTV in Lebanon)
online_chan_1	Channel 1 - General

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International, widely known as LBCI, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation or LBC, 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 militia.

LBCI went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya () covering Lebanon, the Arab world, Europe, America, Australia, and Africa.

History

Post-war era

The Lebanese Forces, a Lebanese militia that had founded LBC in 1985, was militarily and financially weakened by the 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. In April 1996, El Daher and other shareholders launched LBCsat, a free satellite channel. The new channel was a success, disseminated throughout the world, especially attracting the Lebanese diaspora.

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 Saudi prince Al Waleed bin Talal, the latter, through Kingdom, replaced Kamel in LMH.

By the end of 2008, it was decided to increase the capital of LMH considerably. Accordingly, 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. These expectations did not materialize.

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. LBC SAT daily news bulletin was called the "Al Hayat-LBC SAT news bulletin". The cooperation ended in 2010.

Ownership

According to the Media Ownership Monitor, an initiative by Reporters Without Borders and the Samir Kassir Foundation, the majority owner of the station is Pierre El Daher and his family who owns 50.6% share since 1992. before Pierre El Daher bought it, it was previously owned by the Lebanese Forces. Other key shareholders include former Deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares and his son Najad, who own 10% each. Maroun Jazzar owns 4.4%, Investcom, which is owned by Prime Minister Najib Mikati's family, has a 4% share and Salah Osseiran also has a 4% share.

Television channels

Domestic

LBCI, shortened for LBC International (widely known as LBC Al-Lubnaniyya or LBC Al-Mahaliya and shortly known as LBC) – a local and terrestrial channel for Lebanese viewers broadcasting a variety of programs of different genres.
LDC (widely known as LBC Drama) – a local channel dedicated to around the clock reruns of entertainment shows and series.
LBC Sat (widely known as LBC Al-Fadha'iyya Al-Lubnaniyya) - a free-to-air channel dedicated to Foreign viewers. It was launched 1 April 1996. Since 2012, it is part of the Rotana Media Group

International

LBC Europe – an international version of LBCI targeted to Lebanese citizens in Europe.
LBC America – the international version of LBCI is targeted at Lebanese citizens in America.

In December 2019, LBCI announced that the LDC brand would be discontinued by the beginning of the year 2020 and that all programs will be broadcast via LBCI. The main reason behind the decision was that the LDC branding was no longer needed since the battle for the LBC brand and channels with Al Walid Bin Talal has been resolved and won by LBCI current owner, Pierre El Daher.

Defunct

Lebanese Diaspora Channel (LDC) – an international version of LBCI targeted to Lebanese in diaspora countries.
LBCI News – local channel that focuses on broadcasting the most actual news.
LBC Australia – the international version of LBCI is targeted at Lebanese citizens in Australia.
LBC Africa – the international version of LBCI is targeted at Lebanese in Africa.
LBC Maghreb – international version of LBCI targeted at Lebanese citizens in the Middle East and North Africa.
LBC plus – an international version of LBC Sat targeted to subscribed viewers.
Waw – an international version of LBC Sat targeted to subscribed viewers.
LBC Nagham – an international channel focusing on music clips and reality TV shows.
C33 – local channel with focus on French programming.

Logos

Programs

LBCI has produced many 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, and El Wadi (Arabic version of The Farm). Its most famous talk show is Kalam Ennas () hosted by Marcel Ghanem. The show, which originally aired on C33, moved to LBC after C33 was shut down in the mid-1990s.

Project Runway
Arabs Got Talent
The Voice
Ahmar Bel Khat El Arid
The Winner Is
Celebrity Duets
Top Chef Middle East
Beirut I Love You
Basmat Watan
Kids Power
The Brothers Grunt on MTV
Inside Game
Star Academy Arab World
Sunday Mass
Splash!
Miss Universe
Miss Lebanon
Survivor
Gladiators
Motorsports
Perfect Bride
دمى قراطية

LBCI personalities

Malek Maktabi
Albert Kostanian
Raneem Bou Khzam
Roula Haddad
Carla Haddad
Mario Aboud
Ragheda Shalhoub
Rodolph Hilal
Maya Abou Elhosn
Rahaf Abdalla
Anita Suliman
Sandra Aboud
George Souidi
George Yones
Amal Shihade
Perla Najjar
Yara Dergham
Nada Indraous
Elio Shamas
Joe Farshakh
Rawad Taha
Bassam Abu Zaid
Yazbek Wehbe
Nisreen Zawahra
John Ashkar
Hicham Haddad
Mouhamad Kais
Toni Khalife
Majdala Khattar
Mirna Daou

Notes

References

(August 2014). "Lebanese media coverage of oil and gas sector". SKeyes.
(3 December 2003). "Saudi's Prince Alwaleed Buys 49% Stake In LBCsat from Sheikh Saleh Kamel of Art". Middle East Events.
"What is the real story behind PAC?".
(1994-03-10). "First merger of TV, print press in Middle East. - Xinhua News Agency".
"LBCI".

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

1985-establishments-in-lebanon television-channels-and-stations-established-in-1985 arabic-language-television-stations television-networks-in-lebanon television-stations-in-lebanon

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