Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri issued an official statement today, announcing the suspension of work in Future TV and the liquidation of the rights of its employees for financial reasons starting today. 26 years after its founding.
Hariri said in a statement issued by his media office, and published by local Lebanese media: "I can announce today a decision to suspend work on" Future TV "and liquidate the rights of workers, for the same material reasons that led to the closure of the newspaper" future. "
He added: "The decision is not easy for me and the future public, nor for the generation of the founders, workers, workers and millions of Lebanese and Arab viewers, who have accompanied the station for more than a quarter of a century and witnessed a distinguished media experience that devoted effort, capabilities and competencies to serve Lebanon and Arab issues."
Comments continued by Lebanese media, in their accounts on social media, on the decision of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to suspend the work of Future Television, through which they expressed their sorrow for the closure of the television, which would be a loss for the Lebanese media in their view.
"Greetings of solidarity with all colleagues in Future TV and a great greeting to Saad Hariri, who is sad to turn a page that I know how dear to Rafik Hariri and to the family," wrote Marcel Ghanem on his Twitter account. "Within the constants that we have lived with the future: the service of coexistence, dialogue, modernity and sovereignty."
A greeting of solidarity with all colleagues in Future TV and a great tribute to the sad Saad Hariri, in turn, turn the page I know how well they were dear to the heart of Rafik Hariri and the family. In the hope of meeting in a new situation: Within the constants we have lived with the future: the service of coexistence, dialogue, modernity and sovereignty @saadhariri
- Marcel Ghanem (@Marcel_Ghanem) September 18, 2019Jessica Azar commented: "A tribute to colleagues on Future TV. It is regrettable that the Lebanese media have lost this long-established national television station. It is a tribute to President Saad Hariri, who has tried hard to save it."
For her part, commented the media Nicole Hajjal: "In 2003, Future TV was targeted with missiles .. They did not detract from it .. 7 May 2008 The Future TV was attacked and tried to shut it down by force .. They did not get it .. Very sad today the news of the suspension of Prime Minister Hariri "Our future is with every employee who gave his age and sacrifice, and today he has no job."
In 2003, Future TV was targeted with rockets, and they did not harm it.
7 May 2008 Al-Mustaqbal TV was attacked and tried to shut it down by force.
It is very sad today that the news of President Hariri commenting on the work of the Future Television.
Our heart with every employee gave his age and sacrifice, and today he is without a job
"I was saddened by the news, although it is the best solution to end the continuous suffering of employees for years," said Larissa Aoun, a journalist. A group of distinguished media professionals. Very dear this experience to my heart! "
"This is a sad day for the Lebanese media and for an experience that has brought about plurality, spaciousness, modernity and freedom, as far as the Lebanese reality is possible," said journalist Nadim Kteish.
Thanks Future TV for everything. Thank you for opening the air to an unprecedented renewal in the Lebanese media, and for forgiving my disturbing ceilings at times. Thank you for giving me a lot of what I am. "
Future TV is a Lebanese satellite channel broadcast in Arabic. Founded in Lebanon in 1993 by the late former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.