JEDDAH: 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.”
The office also served Rotana TV and Al-Resalah, an Islamic broadcasting channel, both owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The prince also owns a majority stake in LBC.
The office housed reporters and part time employees. LBC’s production team uses the office for special assignments in Saudi Arabia, such as covering Haj.
Staff members contacted by Arab News declined to comment on the grounds that they were not authorized to speak.
