Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International

{{Infobox television channel

| name = Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International

| logo = Logo LBC International (Lebanon).png

| logo_size =

| logo_alt =

| logo_caption = Logo used since 2012

| image =

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| type = Terrestrial television network

| country = Lebanon

| area =

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| headquarters = Adma, Lebanon

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| owner = See Ownership

| parent =

| key_people = Pierre El Daher (chairman & CEO)

| founded =

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| launch_date = {{start date|1985|8|23|df=y}} (television network)

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| website = {{URL|https://www.lbcgroup.tv/}}

| 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

| webcast =

}}

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International ({{langx|ar|المؤسسة اللبنانية للإرسال انترناسيونال|Al-Muasasat Al-Lubnaniat lil-'irsal Intirnasyunal}}), widely known as LBCI ({{langx|ar|إل بي سي آي|Al Bi Si Aī}}), Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation ({{langx|ar|المؤسسة اللبنانية للإرسال|Al-Muasasat Al-Lubnaniat lil-'irsal}}) or LBC ({{langx|ar|إل بي سي|Al Bi Si}}) 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.{{cite web|title=Lebanese media coverage of oil and gas sector |url=http://www.mestrategicperspectives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Lebanese-Media-Coverage-of-the-Oil-and-Gas-Sector.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611200215/http://www.mestrategicperspectives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Lebanese-Media-Coverage-of-the-Oil-and-Gas-Sector.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |publisher=SKeyes|access-date=16 September 2014|date=August 2014}} LBCI went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya ({{langx|ar|الفضائية اللبنانية}}) 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.{{fact|date=September 2024}} 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.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.middleeastevents.com/site/pres_dtls.asp?pid=94|title=Saudi's Prince Alwaleed Buys 49% Stake In LBCsat from Sheikh Saleh Kamel of Art|publisher=Middle East Events|date=3 December 2003|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-date=21 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521231959/http://www.middleeastevents.com/site/pres_dtls.asp?pid=94|url-status=dead}}

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.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/26385/what-is-the-real-story-behind-pac|title=What is the real story behind PAC?|access-date=8 January 2013|archive-date=7 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607140824/http://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/26385/what-is-the-real-story-behind-pac|url-status=live}}

=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.{{citation |url=|title=First merger of TV, print press in Middle East. - Xinhua News Agency |publisher=|date=1994-03-10 |access-date=}} 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 owning 10% each, Maroun Jazzar with 4.4%, Investcom, which is owned by Prime Minister Najib Mikati's family, with 4% share and Salah Osseiran with also 4% share.{{Cite web |title=LBCI |url=https://lebanon.mom-gmr.org/en/media/detail/outlet/lbci/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=lebanon.mom-gmr.org |language=en}}

Television channels

=Domestic=

LBCI, shortened for LBC International (widely known as LBC Al-Lubnaniyya or LBC Lebanon 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.{{fact|date=September 2024}}
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.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

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.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

=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=

File:LBCI DRAMA.png|LBCI Drama logo

File:LBCI News logo.png|LBCI News logo

File:LBCI HD logo.png|LBCI HD logo

File:LDC logo new.png|LDC logo

File:EUROPE FINAL.png|LBC Europe logo

File:Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation America (logo).png|LBC America logo

File:LBC Australia.png|LBC Australia logo

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).{{fact|date=September 2024}} Its most famous talk show is Kalam Ennas ({{langx|ar|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.{{fact|date=September 2024}}