The team broke ground nine days ago at the site of a new studio complex--a significant step in a growth direction for the Christian satellite television outreach to the Middle East and North Africa. Lebanon, with its creative work force and religious freedom, has always been an important production center for SAT-7.
Aside from boosting morale, the single facility will increase the team's operational efficiency, as well reduce the wear and tear on production equipment that, up until now, has been transported between multiple locations each week.
The first phase of the project is expected to take two years to complete and will cost just over two million dollars (USD). Initial funds have been provided by a generous donor, to support both the purchase of the land (about 6,000 sq. meters/60,000 sq. feet) and the initial construction work. This first phase will include 4 different studio areas and much-needed meeting and administrative space.
Marking the occasion, the SAT-7's International Board Chair, Rev Dr Habib Badr, shared the ministry's vision and mission statements, which are now even more relevant and vital than when SAT-7 was founded in 1995, because of the current changes in the region.
SAT-7 CEO Terence Ascott gave a brief overview of the history of SAT-7 and the growth of its work in Lebanon, stressing that even though we will see many changes in the way television is consumed in the future, there will always be a need for quality Christian programming that is truthful, relevant and creative. It was his prayer that this new facility would provide a home for such productions for many years to come.
Samples of recent music and informational videos were shown, which both showed the high standard of SAT-7's programming output and its relevance to the great challenges faced by many Christians in these days of seismic change across the Arab World.
Attending the ceremony were: The Minister of Information, His Excellency Walid Daouk, representing General M. Suleiman, The President of the Lebanese Republic; Colonel George Salameh, representing the Minister of Interior; and Rev. Dr. S. Sahiouni, president of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon. In addition, many of Lebanon's Christian denominations and ministries were represented. The Minister of Information enthusiastically joined SAT-7 and Church leaders in the final act of placing cement for the memorial stone to mark this historic day.
SAT-7 has 3 different 24/7 Arabic satellite channels: SAT-7 ARABIC, SAT-7 PLUS and the region's only Christian channel for viewers under 15 years old, SAT-7 KIDS
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