Will Murr TV have a bitter after-taste?
Rumors have it that the MTV will be up and running again this Sunday. This is major news: The days when the station was singled out and shut down by force because of its anti-Syrian coverage seem very far away.
But behind the fireworks and the flying Champaign corks, lie uncertain times for the born-again station.
Before it was shut down, the station’s most loyal base was that of the Christian nationalists: Aounists, LFers and other groups were turning away in droves from the more established LBC, which was starting to sound too pro-establishment for their ears. Even non-Christian anti-Syrians found in the young MTV a refreshing boldness and an exciting clarity, especially in when it comes to calling Syrian Spades Spades.
Today, the station is re-opening in a very different political landscape. It has to position itself cleverly if it is to succeed in a highly polarized environment.
Being anti-Syrian is hardly relevant today. All the other major stations can now call themselves anti Syrian (except for Hizballah’s Almanar and Amal’s NBN), so how can MTV distinguish itself from the other stations?
In deciding its editorial policy, MTV will have to make difficult choices.
Will it take the side of Michel Aoun, who has great popularity among its core Christian viewers? Or will it bank on its new iconic nature that symbolized March 14, and join Annahar and Future TV network as a part of the new parliamentary majority?
How “Christian” will the station be? Will it support Walid Jumblat or Emil Lahhoud?
It all depends on Gabriel el Murr, the owner of the station and a man famous for his bad political luck; but we don’t need to speculate too much, the station should be broadcasting again soon, and it won’t be long before we know which direction it’s taking.
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The beirut spring is a blog that is interested in Lebanese society and its politics. It started in February 2005 after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
August 19th, 2005 at 9:45 am
Mustapha,
It’s too early to make any claims, but you’re right to point out the problem.
MTV, to my knowledge, is planning on being a youth oriented channel. They have the best studios in Lebanon (far better than LBC and Future), and they have already signed on talent.
Before it was closed down, MTV was the only station trying to professionalize according to international standards. They were trying to become the Fox or NBC of the Middle East.
Their main competition right now is not going to be the Lebanese channels. Rather, they are now going head to head with a revamped MBC (1-4) and the progressive minded Dubai TV conglomerate (which also includes One TV and Sama), not to mention Orbit and Showtime Channels. MBC and Dubai now have American and British directors and are trying to make themselves international brands.
Sadly, our television stations just can’t compete in a market dominated by oil. The only benefit to Lebanese stations is that nearly all of the competent employees in the media industry are Lebanese. But with the opening of the al Jazeera media training school in Doha, that’s going to change rapidly as well. And any Lebanese who gets paid a boatload in Dubai will take the cash over working for a clunky Lebanese station.
MTV has great potential. I could quickly become a leader in the region given the competence of its staff and the quality of its facilities. It could also force Pierre Daher (LBC) and Tariq Ayntreize (the new head of Future who took over for Nadim el Mounla) to update their channels.
MTV could develop into a niche youth oriented Arabic-only channel. If they do that, they’ll have a chance. If they try to go head to head with MBC or Dubai, they will crash and burn or get bought out.
August 19th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
Rightly thought.
I would say that the MTV solution is internationalization. It must open a panarab bersion..
Remember LBC international Vs Saudi Arabia in 95 (or 96, or 97 can’t remember the exact year). It was quickly becoming a very popular source of information. Unfortunately, they were critical about the Saudis and the government forbade them to pursue politcal activities.
Maybe the LBC could have become al-Jazeera before al-Jazeera. How ironic when you consider that it’s LF! Lebanon ’s medias enjoy two advantages: relative freedom and the ability to detect western trends sooner.
Apart of this, MTV is entitled to reparations - since the state recognized its error it must be coherent. But we’re in Lebanon here so it’s likely that they wont’t get a penny.
August 19th, 2005 at 4:42 pm
In regards to news reporting how about the station being impartial and stating just the facts? Wouldnt that be refreshing change?
August 23rd, 2005 at 7:17 am
VP,
LBC lost any connection to the LF in 1994.
You can’t be very LF with Sleiman Franjieh and Issam Fares on your board of directors. And, in 1998, Bashar made LBC take on a close associate of Ghazi Kanaan to “monitor” (ie, censor) the news after LBC did not give enough coverage to Hafez’s visit to Geneva.
Yes, they’re a Christian channel, and Pierre Daher and Antoine Choueiry may be partial to the LF, but they’re smart enough to know not to merge ideology with profit taking. That’s one of the reasons Walid bin Talal partnered with them.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:41 am
Hi Guys,
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My intent is to include in it jokes about Lebanese Politics ..
I can not maintain it myself, as im not that creative:-)
I would appreciate anyhelp you can give, and I invite any one who can contribute to participate to become a member in this blog.
http://forlaughs.blogspot.com/
ps: you can email me at kjmc66@hotmail.com
October 1st, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Mtv is reoping on 5/10/2007 that what they told me, with a new logo .