Lebanon’s media has tough year but confident of turnaround

Last year, Lebanon’s media industry went on a proverbial rollercoaster ride far more thrilling and precarious than anything America’s major theme parks could possibly dream up. Next year looks to be equally action-packed, as the sector struggles to make up for $38.7 million in losses sustained during Israel’s month-long war on Lebanon, overcome low advertising revenues and face up to increased competition domestically and regionally. In business terms, the summer war could not have come at a worse time for the media industry—as indeed for the whole economy—with certain Lebanese TV channels planning rebranding and new print publications launching that would have helped retain Lebanon’s position as a media hub in a region where media growth is amongst the highest in the world. Competition is increasingly cut-throat among the 200-plus channels vying for limited ad spending. City TV, formerly NBN, had planned to revamp its broadcast schedule and New TV