Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International
Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International, commonly known as LBCI or LBC, is a Lebanese private television broadcaster with domestic and international Arabic-language services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International, usually abbreviated as LBCI and also known as LBC, is a private Lebanese television broadcaster whose programming combines news, current affairs, entertainment, reality television, talk shows and locally produced or adapted formats. The organization emerged from the transformation of Lebanon’s original LBC broadcaster, which had been established in 1985 during the Lebanese Civil War by the Lebanese Forces militia. In 1992, LBCI was formed through the acquisition of the earlier entity’s assets, liabilities and logo. Pierre El Daher, who had helped establish LBCI with other shareholders and registered the company in the Baabda commercial register, became a central figure in its subsequent development. The broadcaster’s expansion was closely connected to Lebanon’s post-war political and media environment. The Lebanese Forces were weakened militarily and financially after the civil war ended in 1990, while their leader Samir Geagea was imprisoned in 1994. Against that background, LBCI developed as a commercial television operation rather than remaining solely associated with the militia that had founded its predecessor. Its most important expansion came in April 1996, when it launched LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya, generally referred to as LBC Sat. The free-to-air satellite service extended the LBC brand to Lebanese and Arab audiences across the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Australia and Africa, and became particularly important for the Lebanese diaspora. LBCI’s business has included terrestrial television in Lebanon, international satellite distribution, production and licensing of entertainment formats, news programming, and digital-facing media activity through its wider group presence. Its programming portfolio has included the Arab edition of Star Academy, Miss Lebanon, Kalam Ennas, Survivor Middle East, El Wadi, and Arabic adaptations of international formats such as Greed and Fort Boyard. Marcel Ghanem’s political and current-affairs program Kalam Ennas became one of the network’s most recognizable talk shows. The company has also operated or branded a range of local and international channels, including LBCI, LDC, LBC Europe and LBC America, while several other regional feeds and specialized channels were later discontinued. Ownership and strategic control have shifted over time. Lebanese Media Holding, associated with LBC Sat and the PAC content provider, was involved in a 2003 transaction in which Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Kingdom replaced Saleh Kamel’s position. By late 2008, an increase in LMH’s capital and changes involving PAC and LBC Sat reportedly made Al-Waleed bin Talal the largest shareholder in those interests. In 2010, PAC and LBC Sat were merged with the Rotana group, in a process associated with Al-Waleed bin Talal and Rupert Murdoch. The anticipated benefits of that combination reportedly did not fully materialize. A separate news-programming cooperation between LBC Sat and the Saudi-owned London newspaper Al Hayat ran from 2002 until 2010. In December 2019, LBCI announced that the LDC brand would be discontinued at the beginning of 2020 and that its programs would be carried under LBCI. The stated rationale was that the separate LDC identity was no longer needed after the resolution of a dispute over the LBC name and channels in favor of the LBCI side associated with Pierre El Daher. LBCI remains an active Lebanese television brand with a domestic channel, international reach and a broad entertainment and news profile.
History
The original LBC was established in 1985 during the Lebanese Civil War by the Lebanese Forces militia. In the post-war period, the organization’s political and financial foundations changed as the Lebanese Forces became weaker and Lebanon’s media environment moved toward a more commercial and competitive structure. LBCI was established in 1992 when it acquired the earlier LBC entity’s assets, liabilities and logo. Pierre El Daher had registered LBCI with other shareholders in the Baabda commercial register in 1989 and became the company’s central managerial and ownership figure. LBCI’s defining strategic move was its international expansion. In April 1996, it launched LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya, known widely as LBC Sat, as a free-to-air satellite service. The channel distributed Lebanese programming to viewers throughout the Arab world and to diaspora communities in Europe, the Americas, Australia and Africa. This transformed LBC from a primarily Lebanese terrestrial broadcaster into a transnational Arabic television brand. The company subsequently developed a complex ownership and partnership structure. Lebanese Media Holding held interests connected with LBC Sat and PAC, a content provider serving LBC-related operations. In 2003, Kingdom, associated with Al-Waleed bin Talal, replaced Saleh Kamel in LMH. A later capital increase and changes affecting PAC and LBC Sat reportedly strengthened Al-Waleed bin Talal’s position. In 2010, PAC and LBC Sat were merged with Rotana, although the expected improvements in programming and productivity were reported not to have fully emerged. LBC Sat also cooperated with Al Hayat on a combined news bulletin from 2002 through 2010. LBCI’s programming identity has rested on a combination of news, political discussion, entertainment, reality television, competitions and beauty-pageant coverage. Its productions and adaptations have included Star Academy Arab World, Miss Lebanon, Survivor Middle East, El Wadi, and Arabic versions of Greed and Fort Boyard. Kalam Ennas, hosted by Marcel Ghanem, became a prominent current-affairs program; it originated on C33 before moving to LBC after that channel closed in the mid-1990s. Over time, LBCI operated a domestic channel, an international satellite service and multiple regional or specialized feeds, including LBC Europe, LBC America, LDC and various now-defunct services for Australia, Africa, the Maghreb and diaspora audiences. In December 2019, the company announced that LDC would be discontinued at the beginning of 2020 and that its programming would be consolidated under LBCI. The move followed the reported resolution of a dispute concerning use of the LBC name and related channels. LBCI continues as an active Lebanese broadcaster with both domestic and international media activity.
- 2019
LDC consolidation announced
[1]LBCI announces that the LDC identity will be retired and its programming consolidated under LBCI from 2020.
- 2010
PAC and LBC Sat join Rotana
[1]PAC and LBC Sat are merged with Rotana in a wider media-group transaction.
- 2002
Al Hayat news cooperation begins
[1]LBC Sat and Al Hayat begin joint news-bulletin programming.
- 1996
LBC Sat launches
[1]The broadcaster launches its free-to-air satellite service for Lebanese and Arab audiences worldwide.
- 1992
LBCI acquires the predecessor broadcaster’s assets
[1]LBCI is formed through the acquisition of the earlier LBC’s assets, liabilities and logo.
- 1989
LBCI is registered
[1]Pierre El Daher and other shareholders establish and register LBCI in the Baabda commercial register.
- 1985
Original LBC is established
[1]The predecessor Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation is founded during the civil war by the Lebanese Forces militia.
Products and positioning
A commercially oriented Lebanese television broadcaster combining local news and public-affairs coverage with mass-market Arabic entertainment and international distribution for Lebanese and Arab audiences.
Domestic television channel · 1992
LBCI
LBCI is the principal local Lebanese television service. It carries a mixed schedule spanning news, political discussion, entertainment, series, reality formats, competitions and special programming, serving viewers in Lebanon through terrestrial and broader broadcast distribution.
International satellite television channel · 1996
LBC Sat
LBC Sat was launched as a free-to-air satellite channel in 1996 to serve audiences outside Lebanon. Its distribution covered the Arab world and major Lebanese diaspora markets in Europe, the Americas, Australia and Africa, making it a principal vehicle for the international expansion of the LBC brand.
Entertainment television channel
LDC
LDC, also known as LBC Drama, was a local service focused largely on repeated entertainment programs and series. LBCI announced in 2019 that the brand would be discontinued at the beginning of 2020, with its programming transferred to LBCI.
International regional television service
LBC Europe
LBC Europe was an international version of the broadcaster’s programming aimed at Lebanese viewers and diaspora communities in Europe.
International regional television service
LBC America
LBC America was an international version of LBCI intended for Lebanese audiences in the United States and wider American market.
Current-affairs talk show
Kalam Ennas
Kalam Ennas is a political and current-affairs talk program associated with host Marcel Ghanem. The program originally aired on C33 and later moved to LBC after C33 was shut down, becoming one of the broadcaster’s most recognizable public-affairs offerings.
Brand decisions
2019
Consolidation of LDC programming under LBCIStrategyBackground
LBCI stated that the separate LDC branding was no longer necessary after a dispute over the LBC name and channels had been resolved.
Action taken
The company announced that LDC would be discontinued at the beginning of 2020 and that its programs would be broadcast through LBCI.
Aftermath
The decision simplified the channel portfolio and concentrated programming under the LBCI identity.
2010
PAC and LBC Sat merge with RotanaM&ABackground
The transaction followed changes in ownership and capital involving LMH, PAC and LBC Sat.
Action taken
PAC and LBC Sat were combined with Rotana in a wider media-group integration associated with Al-Waleed bin Talal and Rupert Murdoch.
Aftermath
The expected improvements in programming and productivity were reported not to have fully materialized.
2003
Kingdom enters the Lebanese Media Holding structureM&ABackground
Lebanese Media Holding held interests connected with LBC Sat and PAC.
Action taken
Through an agreement involving Saleh Kamel and Al-Waleed bin Talal, Kingdom replaced Kamel in LMH.
Aftermath
The transaction increased the role of Al-Waleed bin Talal in the ownership structure surrounding LBC Sat and PAC.
1996
Launch of the LBC Sat satellite channelProduct launchBackground
LBCI sought to extend its reach beyond Lebanon and connect with Lebanese and Arab viewers abroad.
Action taken
The company launched a free-to-air satellite service covering Lebanon, the Arab world and major diaspora regions.
Aftermath
The service became a significant international outlet for Lebanese programming and helped establish LBC as a transnational television brand.
Sources2 sources
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