Viewership and perception of state media
This material is one of ten analytical briefs accompanying the full report on the security of Lebanon’s information environment. It forms part of a broader series examining key trends and incidents shaping the informational landscape. We encourage you to read the full report:
https://shafafiyat.com/ar/2025/09/17/%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%88%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7%d9%86/
Lebanese state media, primarily represented by Télé Liban (managed by the Ministry of Information) and Al-Manar (managed by Hezbollah), occupies a specific yet complex position in the country’s highly polarised media landscape. Together, they attract a moderate share of the audience, 11.6% for Télé Liban and 6.4% for Al-Manar, which, compared to the much larger audiences of more popular private channels, indicates a limited overall reach.
State channels are often viewed through a political lens, with viewers choosing them based on their political affiliations. Despite attempts to maintain accuracy and neutrality, these channels are ultimately perceived as aligned with specific political and sectarian groups, stemming from the complicated history of Lebanese political divisions and media development under the influence of powerful political parties and movements.
Télé Liban
Lebanon’s public television, managed by the Ministry of Information, provides national news and entertainment. Télé Liban’s viewership share is about 11.6%. On YouTube, they have 175,000 subscriptions, though most videos do not exceed a few thousand views. During the 2022 parliamentary elections, an EU EOM report found that 31% of the general news coverage focused on the Hezbollah party, followed by 19% on the Lebanese Forces. This suggests that individuals from these two political circles are the primary audience for Télé Liban.
Al-Manar
A Lebanese satellite television station owned by the political party Hezbollah, Al-Manar, serves as Hezbollah’s official media organ. Al-Manar’s viewership share is 6.4%. The audience for Al-Manar content is mainly individuals who are pro-Hezbollah or affiliated with the movement.
Viewership and perception of non-state media,
including partisan and sectarian/religious media
Lebanese non-state media emerged in the 1980s as a counterpoint to the state-controlled Télé-Liban, with a rapid proliferation of politically affiliated channels following the introduction of the Audiovisual Law in 1994. Today, these media play a crucial role in shaping public opinion, distributing information, and representing diverse views. Approximately 97% of Lebanese adults use these media, underscoring strong social engagement with these sources.
However, like state media, these non-state outlets are often perceived as less credible due to overt political ties. Major television stations are aligned with political factions, religious groups, or foreign interests (nine major TV stations are linked to pro-Western or pro-Iranian groups), creating an environment in which professional standards often give way to political agendas.
Non-state newspapers and radio stations face a similar dynamic. Historically abundant, Lebanese print media is currently declining due to the financial crisis and reduced foreign funding, affecting titles such as An-Nahar and Al-Mustaqbal. The radio sector, which even boasted 180 illegal stations after the civil war, is also constrained by economic and regulatory challenges. Despite these challenges, newspapers and radio stations continue to reflect Lebanon’s political spectrum, maintaining their role in political discourse.
Lebanese society has a mixed relationship with non-state media. On one hand, these outlets are valued for giving voice to diverse political opinions, which is vital in a pluralistic society. On the other hand, the strong partisan influence raises scepticism about their objectivity. Viewers often approach media consumption with caution, aware that coverage can vary significantly across channels and their political or sectarian affiliations. Despite concerns about bias, non-state media remain essential for sharing information, especially in the absence of a broadly trusted public institution. Limited press freedoms and the reliance on non-state platforms for up-to-date news on protests, elections, and social movements reinforce their role in political communication and public discourse.
Private Media
MTV Lebanon: With about 64% market share, MTV is one of Lebanon’s most popular stations. Its broad programming includes news, entertainment, and reality shows. High viewership is due to modern production and popularity among a younger audience. Despite this, MTV is sometimes criticised for its centrist and right-leaning approach, which attracts viewers with moderate views, especially in cities like Beirut.
LBCI: With a viewership of about 18.5%, LBCI maintains a strong position as the country’s first private TV station. The channel is popular for its high-quality news programs and series. Although it has a smaller share than MTV, LBCI is valued for its professionalism and relatively balanced reporting. The station maintains historical links with the Lebanese Forces, which influences its editorial line.
Al-Jadeed: With a share of about 25.3%, Al-Jadeed is known for its bold investigative journalism and tackling controversial topics, attracting viewers critical of the political elite. The station’s focus on fighting corruption meets the expectations of viewers seeking change, particularly the younger generation. Despite pressure from the authorities, Al-Jadeed maintains significant viewership thanks to its courageous reporting.
OTV: This station, with about 12.4% viewership, is associated with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), founded by former President Michel Aoun. Due to its clear political ties, it attracts viewers sympathetic to the FPM, especially among Christians who identify with the party’s ideology. OTV places a strong emphasis on covering FPM activities, which creates a niche but loyal audience base.
NBN: A television station closely associated with the Amal movement, which represents the political interests of Shiites in Lebanon. The channel concentrates on news, informative, and political programs that support narratives consistent with Amal’s ideology, and its content is often directed at viewers from the South and areas where the Shiite community resides. NBN’s viewership is typically lower than that of mainstream channels like MTV or LBCI, due to the specific nature of its content and its limited appeal to a broader audience. Despite this, it has a constant audience base, mainly among Amal sympathisers and rural residents, where access to commercial media may be limited.
Partisan Media
Radio Liban: Radio Liban is the national radio broadcaster, funded by the Lebanese government and operating under the Ministry of Information. It plays a crucial role as an information channel, providing news, cultural broadcasts, and educational and musical programs. As a public medium, it is not directly dependent on viewership or listenership, making its market position stable yet less competitive than that of commercial stations. Due to its governmental nature, Radio Liban attracts a diverse audience. However, its reception is sometimes limited to specific groups, such as older people or residents in areas with limited access to social media.
Religious Media
Télé Lumiere: A religious station, financed mainly by Christian religious institutions in Lebanon. Reports indicate its market share is low, given its limited resources and the nature of its broadcast content.
Al Nour Radio: Associated with the Hezbollah movement and mainly serves as a medium for its political messaging, but detailed data on its listenership is not publicly available.
Sectarian Media
Badil Media: Operates primarily as an alternative source of information, focusing on political accountability, social justice, and economic reforms. Badil Media was created in response to the growing demand for independent and transparent journalism, especially after the political and economic crisis exacerbated by the Beirut port explosion in 2020. This editorial team focuses on issues of state neglect, social injustice, and corruption, seeking ways to improve the socio-economic situation and restore accountability of authorities to citizens. Its content, therefore, reaches a specific group of viewers who are critical of the government’s actions.
Popularity of online sources, including unverified ones
The popularity of online sources is significant in Lebanon’s digital landscape, where internet penetration is 90.1%, meaning 4.76 million users at the start of 2024. Social media platforms, covering 85.6% of the population, play a key role in the flow of information, especially Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. These platforms have redefined political discourse, enabling candidates and political movements to bypass the limitations of traditional, often biased media and reach audiences directly and cost-effectively amid Lebanon’s financial crisis.
The influence of social media is powerful among young Lebanese people, who increasingly prefer these platforms over traditional media. Through the ability to conduct discussions, targeted advertising, and share opinions, social media has become crucial for alternative political movements and grassroots campaigns that lack access to mainstream media.
However, the influence of these platforms comes with challenges: unverified information and disinformation circulate widely, often remaining unchecked, and “echo chambers” on apps like WhatsApp amplify this problem. In such spaces, users gravitate towards information that confirms their prior beliefs, which can reinforce sectarian and political tensions. Consequently, while social media supports political engagement, it also perpetuates a complex environment where disinformation thrives, further polarising and shaping a fragmented public understanding.
Additionally, during crises, social media has proven essential for rapid communication and crisis management, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic when government officials used these platforms to correct misinformation and build transparency. However, the spread of unverified content continues to raise concerns.
Using the Semrush platform, we can see the exact number of page views and other valuable statistical data.
Al-Modon: Al-Modon is valued for its reliability and deep analyses, which appeal primarily to liberal and moderate readers. The site is visited by 73.6 thousand people monthly.
Bint Jbeil: Popular mainly among the Shiite community and residents of South Lebanon, it offers local and religious news, focusing on issues relevant to the Bint Jbeil region. This service is known for its more local, conservative approach to events. The site is visited by 23.129 thousand people monthly.
Daraj Media: A platform known for investigative journalism, Daraj emphasises human rights and social politics. It stands out for its high level of engagement on topics such as women’s rights, political violence, and religious persecution. It mainly attracts younger, liberal audiences interested in social issues and social change. The site is visited by 58.059 thousand people monthly.
Elnashra: This is one of the more popular sources for a wide audience, offering a broad range of news from local to international and in the context of regional politics. Elnashra is known for its timeliness, and its coverage attracts both readers seeking current information and those seeking analytical commentary. The site is visited by 813.466 thousand people monthly.
Lebanon 24: This news portal reaches a broad audience with quick updates and live event coverage. It often focuses on socially important topics and the daily problems of Lebanese people, making it a popular source for daily news. The site is visited by 501.960 people monthly.
Lebanon Debate: Known for its bold, often controversial articles, this portal focuses on current political and social events and presents them in an attention-grabbing way. The portal is popular among younger, politically engaged readers. The site is visited by 757.156 thousand people monthly.
Lebanon Files: Another popular source for people seeking current news. Lebanon Files attracts a broad audience thanks to its extensive news and analysis sections, as well as coverage of the economy and internal politics. The site is visited by 506.331 thousand people monthly.
Saida Online: A portal focusing on South Lebanon, particularly around the city of Saida. It offers local news and coverage of religion and social events, attracting readers from more conservative circles. The site is visited by 39.677 thousand people monthly.
Sawt Beirut International: This news portal often attracts political interest, focusing on events in Beirut and all of Lebanon. Sawt Beirut International is known for its analyses and reports on regional conflicts and the international aspects of the Lebanese situation. The site is visited by 50.216 thousand people monthly.
Ya Sour: A portal with strong roots in the Tyre region, offering news from South Lebanon, often related to local events and communities. The site is visited by 52.140 thousand people monthly.
Popularity of foreign media
Lebanese society has a varied approach to foreign media, strongly conditioned by political and regional affiliations and loyalties. Western media, such as the BBC, CNN, and France 24, attract a significant number of Lebanese viewers, especially those who perceive Western countries as defenders of democracy and human rights. However, trust in these sources is not universal; pro-Iranian and pro-Russian factions in Lebanon view Western media more skeptically, seeing them as biased against Iran or Syria.
Arab media also significantly influences Lebanese society, including Al Jazeera (based in Qatar) and Al Arabiya (based in Saudi Arabia), though perceptions of these outlets differ depending on political affiliations. Al Jazeera is popular among audiences who support broader Arab or pro-Palestinian perspectives, while Al Arabiya is preferred by those closer to Saudi Arabian politics. However, it is essential to note that Lebanese society is aware that Arab media (like Western media) pursue the foreign policy of their home countries rather than provide impartial information and is therefore inclined to view these media as tools for implementing regional agendas.
Foreign media proved particularly valuable in Lebanon during times of crisis, such as the 2019 economic protests and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Following these events, Lebanese audiences increasingly began using foreign media, recognizing them as more accurate and up-to-date sources of information.
Nonetheless, the “Media Use in the Middle East” survey showed that 66% of Lebanese still prefer to consume news from domestic media organizations. However, this preference has dropped from 93% in 2017, suggesting a growing openness to foreign media sources despite the dominant role of domestic broadcasters. This trend reflects the complex approach of the Lebanese public to media consumption, which balances local sources with foreign perspectives to navigate Lebanon’s complicated political landscape better.