The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) won a lawsuit it filed before the French judiciary whereby it was able to recover channels “hacked” by Saudi Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal.
As per the French court’s decision, the Lebanese TV station regained possession of the international channels LBC Europe, LBC America, LBC Australia, LBC Africa and LBC Maghreb.
The court’s decision stipulated that Bin Talal shall waiver his alleged right to the said channels and give them back to LBCI, but also be responsible for all fees and expenses of the lawsuit he lost.
The issue relates to the fallout from a long-running row between Prince Alwaleed and former Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) chief Pierre Daher.
The two men were once allies, with Prince Alwaleed investing in LBC (in 2008) and the two partnering in Lebanese Media Holdings. But they fell out over several issues and Daher was sidelined as head of the corporation’s production arm, PAC.
After the relationship soured, Prince Alwaleed and his partners took control of LBC SAT and PAC, while Daher retained the local LBC International (LBCI) operation. According to a news release by LBCI, the company has now regained control over the international broadcast operations.
