Future Television
Future Television | |
---|---|
Launched | February 15, 1993 |
Picture format | 16:9 (576i, SDTV) |
Slogan | "look further" |
Country | Lebanon |
Language | Arabic Armenian French English |
Broadcast area | Lebanon; also available in the Arab World, European Union, United States, Canada, and Australia (also viewable online) |
Headquarters | Beirut, Lebanon |
Website | http://www.future.com.lb/ |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Analogue terrestrial | (1993-2012, digital as of 2012) |
Nilesat | UHF service |
Cable | |
Rogers Cable | Channel 785 (SD) |
Numericable | Channel 716 (SD) |
IPTV | |
Freebox TV | Channel 656 (SD) |
Future Television (Arabic: تلفزيون المستقبل, Televiziyon Al Mustaqbal) a television station broadcasting from Lebanon. It was founded in 1993 by Rafik Hariri, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon. Future TV is also available via satellite in the Arab World, European Union, United States, Canada, and Australia. Politically, the channel supports the views of the Future Movement. The channel has also a sister channel, Future News. Future Television was forced into closing on May 9, during the 2008 Lebanon conflict. After moving its broadcasting headquarters, the station was back on the air on May 13 at 4:30 p.m (Lebanese Local Time). On May 16, the station went back to its original offices.
History
Future Television is a Lebanese owned and operated company founded in 1993. First launched in Lebanon on February 15, 1993, Future Television, although the youngest of the Lebanese stations back then, became the nation's fastest growing station.
On October 1994, Future Television started a trial satellite broadcasting over the footprint of Arabsat 1D. The testing period lasted two months and . Shortly after, Future International was launched on the Arabsat 2A transponder.
In 1996, in compliance with the new Lebanese audio visual law, Future Television restructured its ownership. Future Television presently has around 90 new shareholders, all from the Lebanese business, social and media elite.
Competitors
The main and direct competitors of Future TV are Murr Television and Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
Future Television brands
- Future TV Terrestrial: A localized channel dedicated to the whole Lebanese family, it was broadcast in Digital television format from Doha since 2003.
- Future TV International: The channel is dedicated to Lebanese citizens in the Arab World & European Union.
- Future TV America & Australia: The channel is dedicated to Lebanese citizens in United States, Canada, Americas and Australia.
Defunct brands
- Zein TV: This channel had programs aimed at a younger adult audience, with discussions and content relevant to Arab youth. Reasons for shutting down this channel remain unclear.
- Future News: This channel used to air news and political programs. The channel shut down on 20 August 2012 because the channel changed into a brand new version it was merged with the main future.
Popular programs
Future TV has produced many popular programs including SuperStar (Arabic version of Pop Idol), La Youmal لا يمل (a comedy/skit show), Miss Elite Top Model, El Halka AlAd'af (Arabic version of The Weakest Link), El Fakh (Arabic version of The Trap) & Alakhbar (News & weather) which is usually broadcast daily on different times in Arabic, English, French, and even Armenian.
Its most famous talk show is Sireh wo infatahit سيرة وأنفتحت (Arabic for Open for Discussion) hosted by Zaven Kouyoumdjian. The show, which discusses various social and political issues, is thought to be the highest rating talk show in the Arab World.
Future TV's longest running show is Khaleek bill bait خليك بالبيت (Arabic for Stay at Home) hosted by Zahi Wehbe. The show interviews artists and intellectuals from the Arab World. The show used to be co-hosted by Shahnaz Abdallah.
Future TV broadcasts the Lebanese Premier League and some games played by the Lebanon national football team.
A new show called "Transit" presented by talented anchor Najat Sharafeddine airing Sunday nights on Future Television is competing with a lot of other "Media Talk shows" aired on Lebanese and Middleastern TV corporations.
Logos
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Future TV original logo used from 1993 to 2003.
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Future TV second logo used from 2003 to 2007.
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2007-August 20th 2012.
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from August 20th 2012-present.
Future TV personalities
Past
- Shahnaz Abdallah
- Najwa Qassem
- Joumana Nammour
- Rima Maktabi
Present
- Chef Chadi Zeitouni
- Mahmoud Sammoura
- Sahar El Khatib
- Mounir Hafi
- Zaven Kouyoumdjian
- Zahi Wehbe
- Salman Sarriyiddine
- Lina Doughan
- Najat Sharafeddin
- Youmna Tayyara
- Ali Hamade
- Maya Zankoul
- Nadim Koteich
External links
- Official Site (Arabic)
- Future News Official Site (Arabic)