Television in Lebanon

Television in Lebanon arose as a private initiative and not a state-institution.[1] Lebanon was the first country in the Middle East & the Arab world to have indigenous television broadcasting.[2][page needed] Various Arab televisions emulated the Lebanese model.[3]

There are two significant television platforms in Lebanon: analogue terrestrial (14% of households) and free satellite (83% of households).[4] There is also a relatively high penetration of cable television, but because of the high prevalence of cable theft the official penetration rate is low, at less than 5%.[4] More than 90% of Lebanese households have access to satellite television.[5]

There are 22 free-to-air satellite channels headquartered in Lebanon.[4] There is one government-owned television channel, Tele Liban, which was established in 1959.[4] Several TV channels are politically affiliated, and political parties are an important source of funding.[4] Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) was launched in 1985, was the first private network in Lebanon.[4] Some other Lebanese channels include MTV Lebanon, Future TV, Al Manar TV, NBN, Al Jadeed TV and Orange TV.[4]

Domestic channels, in particular LBCI, have historically been the most popular, as opposed to most other Arab countries where pan-Arab channels dominate.[4] Despite that, large pan-Arab broadcasters, and in particular MBC channels, have proven popular with satellite viewers.[4]

  1. ^ Rugh, William A. (2004). The Arab Mass Media: Newspapers, Radio, and Television in Arab Politics. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-275-98212-6. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  2. ^ Gale Encyclopedia of the Mideast & N. Africa: Radio and Television: Arab Countries
  3. ^ Darwish 2009, p. 73.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Arab Media Outlook 2011-2015". 2012. pp. 191–192.
  5. ^ Sakr, Naomi (2007-12-15). Arab Television Today. I.B.Tauris. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-84511-564-7. Retrieved 2013-02-14.