| Type | Broadcast and television network |
|---|---|
| Country | Lebanon |
| Availability | Lebanon Arab World Europe Australia Sub Saharian Africa America |
| Founded | by Bashir Gemayel, Lebanese Forces |
| Slogan | ...Like no other! (Arabic: !ما في متلا...) |
| Owner | Pierre El Daher |
| Launch date | August 23rd, 1985 (television network) |
| Official website | www.lbci.com |
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (Arabic: المؤسسة اللبنانية للإرسال), widely known as LBC, is the first private television station in Lebanon. It went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya (Arabic: الفضائية اللبنانية) covering the Arab World. It now has several channels covering Europe, America, Australia, and Sub Saharian Africa region. Currently, the channel is one of the most popular channels in Lebanon.
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The Lebanese civil war ended in 1990 with the signing of the Taef agreement. The Lebanese Forces signed the agreement and held positions in the government, but still maintained an anti-Syrian position which was reflected in the LBC's news reporting. On July 23, 1992, the Lebanese government compelled LBC to evacuate its Jounieh premises without prior warning or notifications, before governmental troops took over the building. The station moved to Adma, several kilometers away. On March 23, 1994, the Lebanese government ordered the dissolution of the Lebanese Forces. And on April 21, 1994, Samir Geagea, leader of the party, was arrested. Pierre Daher, a co-founder who managed the station from its beginning, made sure that LBC survived this transitional phase. During the Syrian presence in Lebanon, the LBC political stance reflected the influences of its shareholders who varied throughout this period. LBCSAT, a free satellite channel, was launched in April 1996. The new channel was a success, especially to the Lebanese diaspora, disseminated throughout the world. LBCSAT has been broadcasting 22 hours a day since January 1997 and continues to rank first among stations in the Middle East. Shortly thereafter, within a period of three months, LBC launched three new encrypted and free-to-air channels: LBC Europe, LBC America, LBC Australia, and LBC Sub Saharian Africa. Today, all these channels broadcast around the clock. In December 2003, Alwaleed Bin Talal, the Saudi prince, bought 48% of the stocks of LBC Sat.[1]
At the end of the year 2002, LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya (Arabic: الفضائية اللبنانية ) and the London-based Al Hayat newspaper owned by Saudis, merged their news programs.[2] LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya (Arabic: الفضائية اللبنانية ) daily news report was called the "Al Hayat-LBC news report". In 2010, the cooperation stopped due to several issues.
LBC launched in 2002 its Saudi Desk, which was responsible for Saudi-targeted programs on LBC SAT. In early 2010, LBC closed its Saudi Desk, ended all its Saudi-targeted shows.[3]
After the Cedar Revolution and the release of Samir Geagea, the current leader (as of 18 Feb 2008) of the Lebanese Forces, the party started reestablishing itself and demanded that Daher surrender ownership of the TV station back to the party. Daher refused to do so, saying that "he will not allow the station to be subservient to a political party."[4]
On November 16, 2007, hundreds of Lebanese Forces supporters gathered in front of LBC television in protest of the decision to cancel an interview with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.[5] The interview was called off, after Geagea filed a lawsuit against Daher seeking to repossess LBC and restore its ownership back to the Lebanese Forces.
LBC Group of companies completes 26 years in operation:
•The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) was launched 23 August 1985. LBC is the first private TV station to be launched in Lebanon and a pioneer in the region. LBC Local or LBC International is by far the uncontested leader in the Lebanese market with an aprox 60% MS.
Lebanese Youth: (Primary target)
Young Lebanese Family: (Secondary Target)
• Launched in 1996, LBC Sat, widely known as LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya (Arabic: الفضائية اللبنانية), is an international version of LBC targeted to viewers in the Arab World. LBC Sat also available on freeTVRadio.
• LBC Europe is an international version of LBC targeted to Lebanese citizens in Europe.
• LBC America is an international version of LBC targeted to Lebanese citizens in America.
• LBC Australia is an international version of LBC targeted to Lebanese citizens in Australia.
• LBC Sub Saharian Africa is an international version of LBC targeted to Lebanese citizens in the Sub Saharian Africa region.
This is a list of other LBC brands which were once launched, but later removed for various reasons.
LBC has produced many popular programs 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; which means "The word of the people") 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 Nation" 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.
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