400 celebrate opening of new
SAT-7 studios in Lebanon
Under the patronage of His Eminence Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Raii, the Patriarch of the Maronite Church, deputies from the Lebanese Parliament, Government and military officials, Church leaders from different denominations, SAT-7 international partners and staff celebrated the opening of a brand new, multi-studio for SAT-7 Lebanon.
"Truth, Love, Freedom and Justice are the four principles that form the basis for peace in the family, in society, in church and in government. SAT-7 serves all these principles - proclaiming, teaching, educating and building culture. SAT-7 is a gift from God, from whom every good gift comes,” said Bechara Boutros Al-Raii, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch. This was a part of his address to almost 400 guests at the opening of the new studios on the evening of 15
th November.
Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Raii and Rev. Dr. Habib Badr, Chair of the SAT-7 International Council
A major expansion
The new building, a few hundred meters away from SAT-7’s existing rented and over-crowed facility, has three studio spaces with a total area of almost 1,000 square meters. SAT-7 Lebanon was established in 1996 and was the network's first production center. Initially, the facility had only 100 square meters of studio space.
“At that time I wondered how we would use all the space but it was not long before we needed to rent more space in the same building, and then in other studios around the city. 18 years ago we were broadcasting only two hours per week. Today, SAT-7 is broadcasting over 800 hours a week, in three languages on five different channels”, pointed out founder and CEO Terence Ascott in his opening speech.
“And now as we move into this beautiful new facility, I am again asking: What will we do with all this space? However, from experience, I am sure that it will all be well utilized in a fairly short time.”
Four years of work
SAT-7 in Lebanon have 26 full time employees and over 60 regular freelancers. The studios broadcast five different live shows every week and produce many other programmes, ranging from children’s drama to current affairs programming for older viewers.
“Personally I am very happy to see this dream come to reality after four years of planning and work on this project. Everybody on the Lebanon team is expectantly looking forward to start operating from the new facilities. Our thanks go first to the Lord and then to the family that so generously funded this ambitious project”, says Naji Daoud, Executive Director for SAT-7 Lebanon.
Bringing hope to the region
For Lebanon-born Rita Elmounayer, who has been with SAT-7 since it began and today is the Executive Director of the network’s three Arabic language channels, it is also a very exciting day.
“I never imagined we would have studios this big. I was always excited when I used to go to Sweden or Denmark to produce some of our children´s shows. I was always wishing that, one day, we would have large studios like that. And, Praise God, after 18 years we do have something like that,” says Rita Elmounayer
“It is a great blessing to look back and see from where we started and how God walked with us step by step. I pray that these studios will be a blessing to our millions of viewers and that we will take it as a privilege and an opportunity to reach out to many more in the region with powerful messages of faith and hope.”
Children are the future
Terence Ascott also acknowledged that the new building is not just a building. He is sure it will be used to advance the Vision and Mission of SAT-7.
“Our Mission is ‘To provide the churches and Christians of the Middle East and North Africa an opportunity to witness to Jesus Christ through inspirational, informative and educational television services’. As we do this we are especially reaching the children of the region – providing them with positive role-models and helping build character in young lives from Casablanca to Baghdad. Research has shown that almost 10 million under 16 year-olds watch the SAT-7 KIDS channel on a regular basis and these are the Arab World of tomorrow – our best hope to see positive change in this region.”
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