Middle East Television

The station began its activity as a radio station, in September 1979, under the name The Voice of Hope,{{cite news|title="קול התקווה" ממרג' עיון|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1979/09/11/01/article/48?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=11 September 1979}}{{cite news|title=האנשים המשמיעים את "קול התקווה"|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1979/09/28/01/article/140?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=28 September 1979}} the product of an initiative by an evangelical Christian sect called High Adventure, led by a preacher named George Otis who raised donations for its establishment. The station operated from Marj Ayon under the auspices of the Army of Free Lebanon.{{cite news|title="מלך התקווה" - תחנת הפרסומת לדבר אלוהים|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1980/09/16/01/article/173?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Maariv|date=16 September 1980}}{{cite news|title=רייגן שלח ברכתו לתחנת "קול התקווה"|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1980/09/10/01/article/55?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Maariv|date=10 September 1980}} The station was used for Christian religious broadcasts and propaganda broadcasts by the commander of the South Lebanon Army Saad Haddad.{{cite news|title=ארה"ב גינתה שידורי "קול התקווה" של חדד|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1980/07/10/01/article/25?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=10 July 1980}}{{cite news|title="תחנת 'קול התקוה' בדרום לבנון - לא חוקית"|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1980/07/10/01/article/53?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Maariv|date=10 July 1980}} It mainly broadcast light music, in July 1981 it even cooperated with Kol Yisrael.{{cite news|title=אבי אתגר שידר מ"קול התקרה" לתושבי דרום־לבנון|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1980/07/04/01/article/101?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Maariv|date=4 July 1980}}

In February 1981, the station began trial broadcasts of a TV channel called Star of Hope (or Hope TV), for the purpose of broadcasting a relay station was established near Bint Jbeil.{{cite news|title=עוד קול לתקוות דרום לבנון|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1981/02/23/01/article/135?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=23 February 1981}}{{cite news|title="כוכב התקווה" החלה בשידורי נסיון לרחבי המזרח התיכון|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1981/03/11/01/article/177?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=11 March 1981}}{{cite news|title="כוכב התקווה' מלבנון שידר אתמול בצבע|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1981/02/10/01/article/120?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Maariv|date=10 February 1981}} Otis received a permit from Haddad to broadcast on VHF channel 12.{{cite web |title=I Have Walked with the Living God |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2BaEAAAQBAJ |access-date=13 May 2024 |website=Google Books |date=23 November 2021 }} In order to finance the station's broadcasts, they raised donations in the United States, but planned to broadcast advertisements and contacted the Israeli businessman Haim Schiff as a partner for marketing advertising services in Israel.{{cite news|title=הקמת הטלוויזיה בדרום לבנון נעשה בידיעת צה"ל|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1981/06/26/01/article/88?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Maariv|date=26 June 1981}} In August 1981, a broadcasting vehicle purchased by the station in the United States arrived at the port of Haifa.{{cite news|title=אנשי "קול התקווה" משחררים ניידת השידור שהגיעה מארה"ב|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1981/08/14/01/article/44?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=14 August 1981}} The broadcasting vehicle was placed on the other side of the Fatma Gate in Lebanese territory.{{cite news|title=מעבר לגדר הטובה|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1981/12/16/01/article/74?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=16 December 1981}} The station's broadcasts were officially inaugurated in October 1981.{{cite news|title=שידורי הטלווזיה של "כוכב התקוה" נקלטים היטב בישראל|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1981/10/14/01/article/44?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Maariv|date=14 October 1981}}

On March 9, 1983, the station's broadcast vehicle was damaged by a car bomb explosion, there were no casualties.{{cite news|title=מכונית תופת התפוצצה בצד הלבנוני של הגדר הטובה|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1983/03/10/01/article/4?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=10 March 1983}} Then it switched to broadcasting from a hill near Misgav Am, still on the Lebanese side of the border (the station did not receive permission to operate from Israeli territory).{{cite news|title=תחנת הטלוויזיה סי.בי.או. מן הגדר הטובה - ללבנון או לישראל|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1983/12/07/01/article/25?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Devar|date=7 December 1983}}

On April 10, 1982, a Christian-based television station in South Lebanon, Hope TV, was donated to the Christian Broadcasting Network, and became METV. At this time METV broadcast from Marjayoun.{{Cite web|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2019/january/middle-east-pullouts-news-perspective-on-a-tragic-history|title = Middle East Pullouts: CBN News Perspective on a Tragic History|date = January 2019}} The new facilities (from 1984) were in a fortified compound next to the headquarters of the South Lebanon Army. The geographic location of the transmitter was favorable to overspill, with two thirds of the signal received in much of Israel.{{cite web |title=Dare to Believe!: Stories of Faith from the Middle East |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AyUvEAAAQBAJ |access-date=13 May 2024 |website=Google Books |date=2021 }} In Israel, the channel was one of the few foreign channels available during the period of the state monopoly, being locally known as "Lebanon" or "Haddad", in reference to Saad Haddad. METV was known for broadcasting World Class Championship Wrestling and WWF wrestling which was not available on Israeli TV. The broadcasts were nicknamed "Catch". In the WCCW days, its stars such as the Van Erick family became famous in Israel, gaining many followers and becoming a part of Israeli culture.{{cite news|title=לנצח בקרב שסופו ידוע מראש|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/1.1217365|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Haaretz|date=18 August 2010}}

On August 14, 1984, activists of the Yad L'Achim organization began to demonstrate near the station's broadcasting vehicle, claiming that the station was carrying out missionary activity.{{cite news|title=טלוויזיה מיסיונרית|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/hadashot/1984/08/15/01/article/11?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A5+%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97+%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9F%22&utm_content=itonut|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Hadashot|date=14 August 1984}} The organization claimed that the station's activity was a sophisticated way to convert the Jews to Christianity, by combining popular television programs with the religious broadcasts and it called on the government to withhold services from the station staff.{{cite news|title=המשיח הוא אמריקאי יש לו סניף במרג׳־עיון|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/hadashot/1984/08/17/01/page/50/|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Hadashot|date=17 August 1984}}

File:Middle east TV.png

On June 5, 1997, METV launched its 24-hour programming broadcast on the Israeli satellite Amos 2. This increased the potential audience from 11 million to 70 million viewers with a signal now reaching all of Western Asia (except Yemen), as well as Afghanistan, Egypt, Greece, Libya, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Up until then, the cable companies received the terrestrial signal direct from Lebanon in precarious quality. The start of satellite broadcasts to the Middle Eastern region also enabled the cable companies in Israel to broadcast METV on a uniform location, channel 24, and to receive the channel in better quality. The plans also outlined METV as a cheaper alternative for Israeli advertisers, as well as the opportunity for such advertisers to appear on the channel on Sundays and Thursdays, when METV's primetime had its programming translated to Hebrew. Negotiations with Israeli independent production companies were underway to create original programming for the Israeli market, as well as an agreement with the National Football League to carry its games, including the annual Super Bowl, on Sunday nights with Hebrew commentary.{{cite news|title=‏ערוץ המזה"ת זכה במיקום קבוע|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=141775|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=10 June 1997}} In addition, the Israeli company Charlton started to sell advertising time on the channel, and had the rights to the soccer matches that were broadcast on it from the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the Italian league Serie A. These rights were formerly held by Channel 5, ICP's sports channel. The emergence of METV in this phase caused the channel to be referred to as "the other commercial channel".{{cite news|title=טלוויזיה: פיני זהבי מלחיץ את ערוץ 2|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=125892|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=14 August 1998}}

On October 1, 1998, it conducted a combined broadcast of two football matches between Maccabi Haifa and Paris Saint-Germain and between Beitar Jerusalem and Glasgow Rangers, from the Champions League, which received a 29% viewing percentage in Israel.{{cite news|title=REACH של %29 למשחק מכבי חיפה-פ.ס. ז'רמן בערוץ המזה"ת|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=69324|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=7 October 1998}} Due to its activity in the Israeli market, the franchisees of Channel 2 petitioned the High Court, in November 1998, with a request to order the cessation of cable broadcasts, which harmed their income from advertising.{{cite news|title=זכייני ערוץ 2 לבג"ץ: להפסיק את שידורי ערוץ המזרח התיכון|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=82773|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=10 November 1998}} In January 1999, the Cable Broadcasting Council decided that the channel's broadcasts in Israel require a permit from the council, and without a permit, the broadcasts are prohibited and advertising is prohibited in them.{{cite news|title=‏ערוץ המזרח התיכון: שידורינו בעברית - רק G.9 מסך השידורים|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=95570|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=20 January 1999}}{{cite news|title=ערוץ המזרח התיכון לבג"ץ: להתיר שידורי הספורט למנויי הכבלים|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=95568|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=3 March 1999}} Then an agreement was reached according to which the channel undertook to reduce the broadcasts with subtitles or dubbing into Hebrew, and the advertising for the Israeli market.{{cite news|title=ערוץ המזרח התיכון נערך למתכונת שידורים ע"פ הסדר הביניים בבג"ץ|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=95569|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=10 March 1999}}

In anticipation of the Israeli decision to pull out of Southern Lebanon, Middle East Television began searching for a new broadcast facility in May 1999. On May 2, 2000, Middle East Television completed the construction of its new station and began its digital broadcast from Cyprus.

METV was sold to a like-minded ministry, LeSEA Broadcasting, in July 2001. LeSEA was already the owner of a handful of religious independent television stations with a similar mindset, combining religious programming with secular programming under strict editorial guidelines. In 2002, the channel refused to air Monday Night Football, as ESPN had the rights. Since neither of the two channels had exclusive rights, the likely reason was due to cost issues.No MNF on METV This Year, Haaretz, 4 September 2002 In 2011, METV broadcast Super Bowl commercials for the first time, but with restrictions. Beer commercials and other commercials which were deemed immoral according to its guildelines were removed. Up until then, commercial slots were frequently occupied by promos for religious programming.{{cite news|title=METV תשדר את הסופרבול עם הפרסומות|url=https://news.walla.co.il/?w=//1789200|access-date=13 May 2024|newspaper=Globes|date=5 February 2011}}

In September 2016, LeSEA sold the station to Sid Roth's Messianic Vision, Inc.{{Cite web|url=https://sidroth.org/metv-press-release/|title=METV Official Press Release}} To fill the gap left by IBA's English news service, closed in 2015, the channel started airing newscasts produced by ILTV in Tel Aviv from February 2017.Rank and File: Annie Goes to Be'er Sheva, Haaretz, February 10, 2017

In the early years, a plain wordmark was used.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Practical-Television/80s/Television-Servicing-UK-1985-02.pdf |title=Television |date=February 1985 |accessdate=13 May 2024 |page=52}} The logo of METV, prior to the LeSEA Broadcasting purchase, used to be three cedar trees, in honor of the Flag of Lebanon.

• List of programs broadcast by Middle East Television

{{reflist|24em}}

• [http://www.metv.org Middle East Television (METV)]

Category:Television channels in Cyprus

Category:Evangelical television networks

Category:International broadcasters

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1982