NileSat Asks Lebanon to Halt al-Manar Broadcast, Ends Jouret el-Ballout Operations

The Egyptian Satellite Company, NileSat, has asked Lebanon's telecom ministry to halt the broadcast of Hizbullah's al-Manar TV via NileSat as of this morning, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Tuesday.

“NileSat's administration linked the request to the channel's violation of the contract signed with it and to airing programs that stir sectarian sentiments and sedition,” NNA said.

NileSat also sent another memo to the telecom ministry, informing it that it will stop its broadcast from the Jouret el-Ballout station in Northern Metn as of Wednesday morning “due to the expiry of the contract signed with the Lebanese State.”

The company said the contract expired last year.

According to Lebanon's Central News Agency, NileSat's halt of Jouret el-Ballout operations would prevent some Lebanese TV networks from broadcasting via NileSat's satellites to areas outside Lebanon.

“This step is part of the media-related measures that the Gulf Cooperation Council has started implementing under a broad campaign it had launched in the wake of labeling Hizbullah as a terrorist organization,” the agency said.

Y.R.