Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC), the satellite network that broadcast the program with Mazen Abdul Jawad bragging about his sexual exploits, was shut down in Saudi Arabia yesterday. Conveniently for the government, LBC hadn’t bothered to obtain a broadcasting license for the past three years; it can be shuttered for the simple reason that it is unauthorized. This means that no one has to go into whether the station is culpable for offenses that may have resulted from any particular broadcast.
LBC probably prefers this sort of resolution, too, at least as an alternative to being hauled before a Shariah court. I’m sure it would prefer that all the furor would just disappear. Perhaps in a few months’ time it will and LBC will get its paperwork in order. Maybe it’ll have a different lineup of programming, as well!
LBC Saudi Arabia offices closed
Muhammad Humaidan | Arab NewsJEDDAH: The Ministry of Culture and Information closed the Saudi offices of Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) here on Saturday for operating without a license.
“A committee in which the ministry is a member ordered the shuttering on Saturday of the LBC channel’s office in Jeddah’s Al-Rawdah district for want of license,” a source in the Makkah provincial branch of the ministry told Arab News on condition he not be named. “The office had been working without license for the past three years.”
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August:09:2009 - 06:23
Good. Saudi TV viewers have a right to establish standards of decency over what is shown over their airwaves just like everyone else. Hopefully this will be a step in that direction.
August:09:2009 - 08:00
sexy arabs are all over! what is so strange about this incident?
August:09:2009 - 10:59
Commentor…I know a lot of Saudis who love LBC. I always say the choice is in a remote that is placed in your hand. Twitch it on or turn it off!
The Government shutting Down LBC is not establishing standards of decency. For example, and I don’t know if I wrote about his before…I probably did. Anyhow, I have found that orbit was always a bit more conservative than showtime. A number of years ago Showtime was showing commercials for a popular show nonstop during daylight hours for Sex in the City constantly playing the song “sex pot sex pot” until my kids starting singing it all the time. They asked me what a sex pot was. I cancelled showtime because I couldn’t control the commercials in between programs. I also voiced my reason for cancelling because usually they want this information for future input in providing good customer service reasons. LBC does not have to be programmed into your channels if you don’t like it and I am sure not all that is aired on LBC is indecent according to (?)!
P.S. Establishments that serve kid’s poison food that cause them to be hosptilized aren’t shut down for lack of proper licensing. GO FIGURE!
August:09:2009 - 11:10
My understanding is that LBC had already cancelled the program Mazen appeared on which was a sex-filled tabloid program, and that the rest of its programming is more decent (both sexually and intellectually). It is too bad to lose out on what good programming it does offer.
August:09:2009 - 11:23
Hi Chiara, Thanks for informing me…I really didn’t watch those Arabic channels like LBC.
The Saudi Government seems to take the attitude of “Squash and cancel what it cannot control”. Ever wonder why there are so many terrorists born there?
What effective problems solving skills? I am so impressed. What a demonstration of its MIGHT. What advocacy for the good use of taking self control by making the right choice. I am sorry Saudi people. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE! Definately a model to follow after…
I have to add the reason why you do not have a choice. The reason you do not have a choice is because you cannot be TRUSTED. You are not righteous enough to make the right choice. Allah will not judge you We will hahaha
August:09:2009 - 15:30
BlaBlaBla.
This whole thing will blow over in a few days.
LBC is far too popular in the kingdom to go down in flames just yet not to mention that it’s offices in riyadh are still up and running.
The kingdom just wants to show that it cares about moralities,ethics and all that crap.
August:09:2009 - 18:52
Alain–it does seem very plausible that LBC will only be temporarily off the air, especially as it has already taken its own corrective measures. If I understand most of its programming correctly, it would be a general benefit to have it back. Thanks for the info about its Riyadh offices.
August:09:2009 - 18:55
Sparky–fully cancelling the station’s programming would seem to be overkill, and it most likely is temporary to make a point. I’ve only seen clips from certain LBC programs eg. news that seem to have value enough, at least value beyond complete tabloid television.
August:09:2009 - 19:20
Just now it was discovered that they have been operating without a license!!!??? ROTFL So why weren’t they doing their job before. Oh yeah, I forgot royalty does not need permission or licensing. And all the people who think there is some triumph to be had in all this (LBC being scolded like a two year old) need counseling. THe comment from commentor set me over the edge “Saudi TV viewers have a right to establish standards of decency over what is shown over the airways”. You have to be kidding me! I would really like to see Saudis “establish” that is different when two of your hands are mostly tied behind your back and you have no such things as RIGHTS!
Alain, yeah I know it won’t go down it flames but the Kingdom is sending a message not that it cares about moralities and ethics IMO. It is demonstrating to the world that Saudis are supposed to be perfect. If it would have been a Syrian or a Lebanese person saying the same stuff, I doubt it would have been discovered that LBC has been operating without a license and its offices down.
Its exciting to talk about how horrible the moralities and ethics are of other “races” but STOP HAMMER TIME “CAN’T TOUCH THIS”
The Kingdom is sending a message “Don’t portray Saudis in any other light other than perfect!” To do so has severe consequences. That is unless you are the government portraying a Saudi in an unfavorable way and in that case it is ok.
The man made a poor choice one I am sure he is suffering from daily. Why should the rest of LBC viewers be punished? Men treat women like children and the government treats both sexes like children. I don’t know bout the rest of yall, but I kinda of like being an adult.
August:09:2009 - 19:52
Saudi Decision Makers need to stop appeasing small minded people…UGGHH
I will buy a huge bubble and throw em all inside so no outside bateria can invade their sacred space and unsettle their pious atmospheric condition. God Forbid it is disrupted. Expect all hell to break lose. Why.. what started out as a “simple conversation” (LBC show) could certainly end up in violence in the Name of Allah if the government hadn’t taken some type of “ACTION”.
Alain are you telling me this is why the actions have been taken? Or is it just to show “Heck we care about morality!” Rolling more on the floor even more if those are the true thoughts behind the decision…Holy Macramolly
August:10:2009 - 09:08
Sparky, excellent advice; use your remote, if it is too much trouble tell your maid to do it, and change channels.
All this crap about ”morality” seems a bit hypocritical as I read in a survey last year that KSA is the country with the most clicks to pornsites on the internet.
August:10:2009 - 10:13
Aafke…LOL at tell your maid to do it…
I believe it about the porn clicks and KSA
Saudi outlook in Saudi is to put it nicely a “nice experiment”! Saudi outlook outside of Saudi is even a “cooler experiment!”
This is all so amazing!
I wish I would have majored in psychology…I would write a book and became disgustingly rich.
August:10:2009 - 10:24
Hmmm, you can still do it…
I would love to read your book!
August:10:2009 - 16:53
Apparently, the office in Riyadh has been shut down as well.
August:10:2009 - 17:52
I cant stop laughing on this false sense of piety and holier than thou attitude by saudi officials! BTW, banning this channel will be counterproductive but saudi officials have the mentality and maturity of an imbecile so it really doesnt matter anyway.
August:11:2009 - 09:01
This is another reason most young Saudis don’t even watch TV anymore. They all now download DVD rips or watch TV shows online, some like to buy them also from online stores. A lot of them will put effort into getting Director Cut or uncensored versions if the movie was violent or for example was a National Lampoon type of movie. For example Vampire movies are usually banned in Saudi Arabia.. so people either download them or buy them with foreign non-english titles where they can switch the Audio to English and enjoy them.
Shutting down LBC offices will not accomplish anything of value but an appeasement gesture.. Its like a person drowning himself in kneels deep water.. just embarrassing to make a ruckus for this.. how the Saudis behave outside their country is enough to tell you that they are no angels..
August:13:2009 - 20:36
[...] I read that the LBC offices are being closed down in Saudi, (which happened to be operating without a license for many years… bewildering? Yes, I know!)… [...]