Lebanese Future Broadcasting Corporation

The growing crisis between the Lebanese Forces and the LBC could be an opportunity for Future TV’s upcoming news channel.

Melting Pot?

By all measures, it was shocking. 

If you can ever imagine Future TV denying Mr. Hariri an interview, or NBN denying Mr. Berri one, you’d understand how shocking it is for the Lebanese Forces to have Dr. Geagea’s interview with the flagship program Kalam el Nass canceled.

This is very unfortunate for LBC, especially when you know that most of the stars who work there (like May Chidiac and Fadi Abboud) are LF sympathizers. The battle for the soul of the LBC must continue, but this post is about another, wilder idea.

With every crisis comes an opportunity. March 14 has heralded a historic alliance between the LF and the Future Movement, an alliance that is proving with time to be much more than tactical. If you listen to Dr. Geagea and Mr. Hariri speak of each other, you’ll know that their alliance is for a higher cause, one of Lebanese sovereignty and independence. 

So why not challenge them to walk the talk and merge their media into one “Lebanon-only” 24-hour behemoth?

Think of it, there couldn’t be a better time. Future International is about to launch, and I can’t see a more powerful symbol than seeing May Chidiac having her own political program in what can be renamed the Lebanese Future Broadcasting Corporation (LFBC)

Related Beirut Spring Posts:

• A few days ago, I wrote that I was skeptical of the new Future TV channel • In July of 2005, I spoke of the difficulty of rebranding Dr. Samir Geagea to Future TV’s core audience • In November of 2006, I followed up and covered Al-Arabiya’s documentary of Dr. Geagea, which I thought was a remarkable success.