Al Jazeera moves ahead in Lebanon

Notes and media contacts

About the Al Jazeera Network
Al Jazeera started out over twelve years ago as the first independent Arabic news channel in the world dedicated to providing comprehensive television news and live debate for the Arab world. In 2006, Al Jazeera was ranked by brandchannel.com as the most impactful television broadcast news brand globally.

As a result of its expansion and the creation of new channels and services, Al Jazeera was formally named the Al Jazeera Network in March 2006, transforming its operation into an international media corporation. The Al Jazeera Network now consists of the flagship Al Jazeera Arabic channel, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Documentary, Al Jazeera Sport, Al Jazeera.net (the English and Arabic web sites), the Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center, the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live), and Al Jazeera Mobile.

About Cablevision
Cablevision SAL was established in 1993 and has since been the leading digital cable operator and Entertainment Company in Lebanon providing royalty paid channels with a perfect sound and picture quality. Our network is transmitted on a fully digital Microwave system to ensure crystal clear video resolution and CD quality audio output without any degradation or interruption of services.

Cablevision is an MVDS (Microwave Video Distribution System) cable operator that uses Digital Video Broadcasting, the new state-of-the-art digital technology.With MPEG-2 transmission, the worldwide standard for digital television compression, Cablevision can now boost the number of programs distributed in populated areas in addition to broadcasting all kinds of digital data.
Our network transmission bandwidth expands from 11.7 GHz to 12.1 GHz, horizontal polarity.

About ECOnet
SINCE establishment in 1990, ECO (Electronics & Communications office) has been at the forefront of broadcasting and communications systems in Lebanon.

The organization has its roots in the poor quality of terrestrial TV coverage that used to prevail in Bekaa Valley where ECO is located in the Bekaa. This led to a vast upsurge in the installation of satellite reception equipment for individual use, in turn prompting increased demand for international programs. The investment required for receiving such programs dictated an expansion into transmission via coaxial network (CATV) and this was completed by ECO in 1991, covering the city of Zahle and distributing 18 FTA channels.

In 1994, as a result of research and development studies by ECO, the company began transmitting 18 channels from its analogue MVDS head - end, feeding three owned - and - operated CATV networks in Zahle.

Reception was clear, and covered all Bekaa Valley territories. This strategy was maintained while developing ECO's MVDS system and in July, 1997 an affiliated company - ECOnet SAL - was established to manage and operate the venture.

At the end of 1998 ECOnet encrypted its signals and introduced its 35-channel MVDS service. Technical and client satisfaction led to an expansion covering the capital Beirut, its suburbs, Mount Lebanon and the Lebanese coast between Saida and Jbeil.

Even before the date of the establishment of ECOnet, the ECO parent recognized programmers' copyright and began negotiations to secure distribution rights, leading to the signing of the first distribution agreement in July, 1997.
Almost four years later, in April, 2001, ECOnet and ADD (Arab Digital Distribution) signed the first exclusive MSO agreement (Multi-Service Operator) in the region.

At the beginning of 2002, a new digital platform has replaced the old distribution system, heralding the era of pay- TV in Lebanon - an era of professionalism, respect, prosperity and added - value services, ensuring crystal and clear video resolution.
ECOnet was the Pioneer of introducing the Multi-Room receiver characteristic in Lebanon where it succeeded to double the client's satisfaction, in addition.
Recently ECOnet has been officially licensed from the government to distribute its programs via IPTV and the trial period is being prepared for launching.

Now ECOnet possesses distribution agreements of selected premium channels from all the major TV providers like, ADD, ART, Orbit, La Gardere, Star, Turner, MBC Group and Al Jazeera Network and many local and international Channels for satisfying its subscriber's choice in different languages for the ultimate Entertainment and Information source, where the Channels ranging from sports to movies, from documentaries to music, from News to kid's channels with a total of 130 channels.

ECOnet's clients are served by a professional and qualified management team and a skilled technical team for assistance supported by three branches of the company, 49 dealers, 55 Free Lancers and 15 sales points.
The ECOnet Prepaid Card is a valued facility that gives viewers very convenient way to renew subscriptions. The prepaid cards are distributed from authorized Dealers and sales points throughout Lebanon.

Today, ECOnet is firmly established as Lebanon's leading specialists in satellite television, providing a complete digital coverage for the entire nation well equipped and prepared in a legitimate form providing an ultimate service and customer satisfaction in Lebanon, where it is looking with hope for a better future for the pay TV sector .

Finally, in a market where the pirates cables are dominant of 98% of the market we are still reluctant in investing more and as soon as the copy right law or the encryption TV law become implemented, we promise our subscribers to add all the technology and content that enable them to enjoy our services as per advanced and international standards.

For further information please contact:
Lauren McCollough
Tel: +974 489 6046