# Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (Arabic: المؤسسة اللبنانية للإرسال انترناسيونال), widely known as LBCI, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation or LBC in Arabic Abbreviation, 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. LBCI went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya (Arabic: 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.

### 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. 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 Daher and his family who owns 50.6% share. 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.

## Television channels
### Domestic

* LBC International/LBC1 – a local channel for Lebanese viewers broadcasting a variety of programs of different genres.
* LB2 (formerly known as LBCI Drama) – a local channel dedicated to around the clock reruns of entertainment shows and series.
* LBC Satellite TV/LBC Sat - a Satellite channel dedicated to Foreign viewers

### 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.
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.

### 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

* LBCI Drama logo
* LBCI News logo
* LBCI HD logo
* LDC logo
* LBC Europe logo
* LBC America logo
* 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). Its most famous talk show is Kalam Ennas (Arabic: 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.
* Project Runway
* Arabs Got Talent
* Star Academy
* The Voice
* Ahmar Bel Khat El Arid
* The Winner Is
* Celebrity Duets
* Top Chef Middle East
* Beirut I Love You
* Basmat Watan
* Kids Power
* The Brothers Grunt on MTV
* Inside Game
* Star Academy Arab World
* Sunday Mass
* Splash!
* Miss Universe
* Miss Lebanon
* Survivor
* Gladiators
* Motorsports
* Perfect Bride
* دمى قراطية (Douma Qrattiyeh/Douma Kratiyeh)

## LBCI personalities

* Malek Maktabi
* Albert Kostanian
* Adel Temani
* Raneem Bou Khzam
* Roula Haddad
* Carla Haddad
* Mario Aboud
* Ragheda Shalhoub
* Rodolph Hilal
* Maya Abou Elhosn
* Rahaf Abdalla
* Anita Suliman
* Sandra Aboud
* George Souidi
* George Yones
* Amal Shihade
* Perla Najjar
* Yara Dergham
* Nada Indraous
* Elio Shamas
* Joe Farshakh
* Rawad Taha
* Hadi Harmoush
* Bassam Abu Zaid
* Yazbek Wehbe
* Nisreen Zawahra
* John Ashkar
* Hicham Haddad
* Mouhamad Kais
* Toni Khalife
* Majdala Khattar