Future Television

Infobox Network
network_name = Future Television
network_
country = Lebanon
network_type = Broadcast radio network and
television network
available = Lebanon; also available in the Arab World, Europe, United States, Canada, and Australia
slogan = "You are the Future" (Arabic: "المستقبل أنت")
owner = Future TV Network
key_people =
launch_date = February 15, 1993 (television network)
founder = Rafik Hariri
website = http://www.future.com.lb/

Future Television (Arabic: تلفزيون المستقبل, "Televiziyon Al Mustaqbal") a television station broadcasting from Lebanon. It was founded in 1993 by the late Rafik Hariri, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon. Future TV is also available via satellite in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Politically, the channel supports the views of the Future Movement. The channel has a also a sister channel, Future News. Future Television was forced into closing on May 9th, during the 2008 Lebanon conflict. After moving its broadcasting headquarters, the station was back on the air on May 13th at 4:30 p.m (Lebanese Local Time). On May 16th, 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. Supported by a large capital, advanced technology, wide coverage and an excellent image quality, Future Television triggered competition on all fronts in the Lebanese TV market.In the beginning of a post-war epoch, it tried to provide a new outlook for the Lebanese public. For that, Future Television took off with a sweeping reputation for an eccentric funky look, extensive family programming, an Oriental-Western promotional blend and a diversity of public awareness messages; all in all, an optimistic view of the future.

On October 1994, Future Television started a trial satellite broadcasting over the footprint of Arabsat 1D. The testing period lasted two months and left an audience, mostly in the Arab World, asking for more. Shortly after, following the success of the initial experiment, Future International was launched on the Arabsat 2A transponder. Since the very beginning, it has successfully maintained two important characteristics: (1) preservation of our Lebanese identity and (2) quality production rather than easy-to-market production.

Quckly Future International grew to become one of the leading Arab satellite stations gathering the highest audience ratings in the Gulf, Egypt and the Levant. Ever since, Future International has been an 24 hour open window to Lebanon for the Arab world, North Africa, and South Europe. Like Future Television, Future International is a family TV that promotes Lebanon as a place for reconstruction, civilization, prosperity, coexistence, fun and good times.

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.

Future Television was the first Lebanese Television company to establish a presence online in March 1996. With an increasing number of daily hits, website continues to be a reliable reference for Future Television viewers and fans worldwide on one hand, and a connection linking Lebanese abroad to their mother country on the other.

Competitors

Its biggest competitors in Lebanon are LBC and formerly Murr Television, a station that was closed by pro-Syrian lawmakers for political reasons.

Future Television brands

* Future TV Terrestrial: A localized channel dedicated to the whole Lebanese family.
* Future News: A localised news channel.
* Future TV International: The channel is dedicated to Lebanese citizens in the Arab World & Europe.
* Future TV America & Australia: The channel is dedicate to Lebanese citizens in North America and Australia.

Popular programs

Future TV has produced many popular programs including SuperStar (Arabic version of Pop Idol), La Youmal (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" (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" (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.

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

Future TV personalities

External links

* [http://www.futuretvnetwork.com/ Official Site] en icon
* [http://www.future-news.tv/ Future News Official Site] ar icon