Future Television

Future Television
Launched February 15, 1993
Picture format 16:9 (576i, SDTV)
Slogan "look further"
Country Lebanon
Language Arabic and French
Broadcast area Lebanon; also available in the Arab World, European Union, United States, Canada, and Australia (also viewable online)
Headquarters Beirut, Lebanon
Website http://www.future.com.lb/
Availability
Terrestrial
Analogue terrestrial (1993-2012, digital as of 2012)
Nilesat UHF service
Cable
Available on most cable systems Check local listings for channels

Future Television (Arabic: تلفزيون المستقبل, Televiziyon Al Mustaqbal) a television station broadcasting from Lebanon. It was founded in 1993 by Rafik Hariri, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon. Future TV is also available via satellite in the Arab World, European Union, United States, Canada, and Australia. Politically, the channel supports the views of the Future Movement. The channel has also a sister channel, Future News. Future Television was forced into closing on May 9, during the 2008 Lebanon conflict. After moving its broadcasting headquarters, the station was back on the air on May 13 at 4:30 p.m (Lebanese Local Time). On May 16, the station went back to its original offices.

History

Future Television is a Lebanese owned and operated company founded in 1993. First launched in Lebanon on February 15, 1993, Future Television, although the youngest of the Lebanese stations back then, became the nation's fastest growing station.

On October 1994, Future Television started a trial satellite broadcasting over the footprint of Arabsat 1D. The testing period lasted two months and . Shortly after, Future International was launched on the Arabsat 2A transponder.

In 1996, in compliance with the new Lebanese audio visual law, Future Television restructured its ownership. Future Television presently has around 90 new shareholders, all from the Lebanese business, social and media elite.

Competitors

The main and direct competitors of Future TV are Murr Television and Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation

Future Television brands

Defunct brands

Popular programs

Future TV has produced many popular programs including SuperStar (Arabic version of Pop Idol), La Youmal لا يمل (a comedy/skit show), Miss Elite Top Model, El Halka AlAd'af (Arabic version of The Weakest Link), El Fakh (Arabic version of The Trap) & Alakhbar (News & weather) which is usually broadcast daily on different times in Arabic, English, French, and even Armenian.

Its most famous talk show is Sireh wo infatahit سيرة وأنفتحت (Arabic for Open for Discussion) hosted by Zaven Kouyoumdjian. The show, which discusses various social and political issues, is thought to be the highest rating talk show in the Arab World.

Future TV's longest running show is Khaleek bill bait خليك بالبيت (Arabic for Stay at Home) hosted by Zahi Wehbe. The show interviews artists and intellectuals from the Arab World. The show used to be co-hosted by Shahnaz Abdallah.

Future TV broadcasts the Lebanese Premier League and some games played by the Lebanon national football team.

A new show called "Transit" presented by talented anchor Najat Sharafeddine airing Sunday nights on Future Television is competing with a lot of other "Media Talk shows" aired on Lebanese and Middleastern TV corporations.

Logos

Future TV personalities

Past

Present

External links