LBCI launches digital broadcast

Three land sub-channels on air

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) initiated a digital broadcast pilot phase during the month of Ramadan. Currently, viewers are able to choose among three LBCI channels. LBCI Drama, with its red logo, only runs TV series. Another channel with a blue logo runs programs, series, talk-shows, and regular news broadcasts. A third channel with a white logo includes live news in addition to regular programming.

Tony Chidiac, Operations Manager at LBC, said that the station is currently broadcasting both digital and analogue transmissions, until the shift towards digital broadcast is completed in the coming November.

By June 2015, all forms of audio-visual broadcasts in the country will shift from analogue to digital transmission, the Ministry of Telecommunications said recently. The plan will be initiated by removing the current transmitters of all television and radio stations.

There are eight local broadcast frequencies already operating, for eight terrestrial broadcast channels. Digital broadcasting could raise that number to 30 or more.