BBC Arabic launches on FM in Lebanon

Listeners in Beirut and throughout Lebanon can now hear the BBC Arabic Service for two hours every day on the Voice of Lebanon 93.3 FM.

Starting today, 22 June 2005, listeners will be able to enjoy BBC Arabic's flagship news programme Al alam hatha al sabah - The World This Morning - which sets the day's agenda every morning, Monday to Sunday at 06.00 local time. Hadeeth Al-Sa'a - is the daily programme analyzing and discussing key stories in the news at 15.00 and Nuqtat Hewar - Talking Point - enables listeners to share their political, social and sporting views at 18.00. Visitors to bbcarabic.com can also listen to and participate in Nuqtat Hewar online.

Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic, said: "Our partnership with Voice of Lebanon is an important addition to the BBC's presence in the Arab world. I hope the availability of BBC programmes, in Arabic, in crystal clear quality, will further expand our listener base in this region."

Sheikh Simon El-Khazen, CEO of the Voice of Lebanon, added: "Broadcasting BBC programming in Arabic and English represents an important phase in the growth and development of the Voice of Lebanon. The BBC will complement our already rich source of programming by bringing a wider international news perspective which is valuable in a fast-changing world."

BBC Arabic programming on the Voice of Lebanon 93.3 FM is the latest development in the BBC's strategy to increase partnerships in the Arab world. The BBC Arabic service has 12.5 million listeners in the Middle East and North Africa and can currently be heard on FM in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Palestinian Territories / West Bank and Sudan.