"Nasrallah Manages to be Convincing Even with Enemy"

Arabmonitor.info, 17-11-2008

Beirut, October - How much audience does Al Manar enjoy among the Lebanese and the "Israeli"-Palestinian public? Who are the best performing communicators on the local and the international level? Can we realistically hope to see a documentary on Imad Moghnieh in the upcoming future? About these and other issues Arabmonitor talked to Abdallah Kassir, director general of Al Manar broadcasting.
"On the Lebanese level, according to the various polls, we turn out to be the second or third TV in terms of popularity. LBC remains on top of the list. They make a good TV that offers also entertainment programs which we cannot implement because of restrictions rooted in religion.

Obviously the light entertainment programs they offer attract a large audience, especially among the younger generation. With the Palestinians living on the other side of the border we are the TV broadcaster with the largest audience, including with those holding "Israeli" citizenship. The "Israelis", for their part, tune in on Al Manar when there's a speech from Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in the offer, or whenever there's an issue or an incident whose details are yet unknown. However, their security and military services and their research institutes are habitually tuned in to Al Manar. They are an audience whose loyalty we can rely on".

What is the main source of information serving Lebanese public opinion?

"Definitely the television, followed by newspapers and, in the third place, by radio. With all this ranking, we must keep in mind that Internet is speedily on the rise, to the point that, I suppose, among people in their twenties it has already become the main source of information and it clearly marks the future of information".

The Lebanese media are often accused of inciting political hatred and of widening the gaps between the various political factions.

"It's not always correct to shift the fault to the media. It's rather the politicians who use aggressive, exaggerated language. The media only act as a mirror reflecting the picture.

Furthermore, there's a breathtaking competition between broadcasters and newspapers and everybody seems to be on the run to grab some colorful expression which then is turned into a news item. The real problem is that the country is made up of separate religious communities and that each politician, when addressing the public, is actually talking only to his own community".

How does Al Manar articulate its programming?

"We are a full-fledged TV broadcaster. News and programs dedicated to political issues occupy about 40 percent of our space. Another 40 percent is devoted to social issues, sports, religion, issues regarding childhood and environment. This leaves us with about 20 percent of the schedule for films as well as documentaries, which we buy from other countries like Egypt or Syria. We consider the family to be the basic pillar of society and the main user of our programs, therefore, we try to cater to the specific needs of each family member".

Al Manar is being identified as Hizbullah's TV.

"That's not entirely correct. Al Manar is committed to the Resistance. Hizbullah holds 51 percent of Al Manar shares, but the remaining 49 percent belong to independent shareholders, among them many Christians, Druze, people from all walks of life in Lebanon".

Who are, in your opinion, the best-performing communicators, both on the local and the international level?

"In Lebanon, the number one is Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. He manages to convince even the "Israelis" of his sincere commitment to achieve what he is declaring to the world. I would say "Israeli" public opinion trusts him more than their own leaders' rhetoric. Well, if somebody is capable of convincing the enemy, you can imagine what his performance amounts to with his allies. On the international level, the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is certainly a fascinating figure".

Does Al Manar have any project in the making as a serial about the life of Imad Moghnieh?
"The wish is there, certainly, but the idea has to be studied carefully. I don't want to withhold that there's also the fear that a serial.