Télé Lumière is the first Christian television station in Lebanon and the Arab world and was founded in 1991. Since 2003, it also broadcasts satellite programming worldwide under the name Noursat. It is operated by the Catholic bishops conference of Lebanon.
History
Télé Lumière logo
Télé Lumière meaning the "Television of Light" was founded in 1991 by a group of lay people: Late Charles Helou, a former President of Lebanon, Brother Nour, Jack Kallassi, Late George Frem (ex. MP and minister), George Moawad, Rola and Sana Nassar, Dr. Antoine Saad and Christiane Debbaneh.[citation needed]
Télé Lumière is a non-profit organization, its mission is ecumenical, it is not associated to any political party or movement, do not broadcast any political views and do not accept or promote any commercial endorsements. As a non profit broadcasting station, it survives only from donations given by its supporters and friends.[citation needed]
The Church cooperated with this television station since the beginning.[citation needed] Télé Lumière is supervised by the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon and directed by a committee involving religious leaders from various denominations and a group of laity. The relationship between the Church and Télé Lumière is organized through a "cooperation protocol".[citation needed]
As for the government, it considers Télé Lumière a Christian station, financially independent and having freedom of management and programming controlled only by the authority of the Church.[citation needed]
Noursat
Noursat logo
In June 2003, on Pentecost, Télé Lumière celebrated its 12th anniversary as well as the launching of its satellite station Noursat covering European Union, the Southwest Asia and North Africa. Actually (2020) the station is located at the A05 transponder of Eutelsat 7West-A at 7,3°W. One year later, at September 8, 2004, Noursat began its official broadcast in North and South America, United States, Canada and Australia (platforms Mysat, MysatGo).[citation needed]
