Radio Orient
Radio Orient is a Lebanese radio station broadcast from Beirut. It first aired in 1982 from Paris and was founded by Raghid Al-Shammaa, a French-Lebanese businessman based in Paris, alongside Rima Raghid Al-Shammaa and Samir Issam Al-Shammaa. It was sold to former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in late 1994 and obtained its license the same year. At the time, it was one of the strongest Arab media outlets in Europe. Hariri’s adviser Hani Hammoud was appointed as its general manager, but the latter began his new role by clashing not only with a significant number of employees, but also with the relevant journalists’ unions in Paris. Hammoud returned to Beirut to work alongside PM Hariri. The radio continued to operate from both Paris and Beirut, but as financial obstacles erupted frequently, the decision was to save money by laying off staff. The radio airs news and political programs in addition to diverse local artistic programs and game shows on 88.3 and 88.7 FM. It is currently run by Kamal Risha.
Audience Share
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Ownership Type
Private - Lebanese Joint Stock Company
Geographic Coverage
National
Content Type
Free Content
Media Companies / Groups
Radio Orient SAL
Ownership Structure
Radio Orient is affiliated with the Hariri family through Wave Holding SAL, which holds 99.7% of Radio Orient SAL. Wave Holding SAL is owned 99.65% by former MP Bahia Hariri, aunt of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and sister of late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Voting Rights
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Individual Owner
General Information
Founding Year
1982
Affiliated Interests Founder
Former candidate for Prime Minister of Lebanon
Rima Raghid Al-Shammaa
Samir Issam Al-Shamaa
Affiliated Interests Ceo
General Manager
Contact
Phone: +961 (1) 370 700 ; +961 (1)753232
Website: www.radioorient.live
Address: Shammaa Building, Mar Elias Street, Beirut, Lebanon
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
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Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
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Advertising (in % of total funding)
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Market Share
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Further Information
Meta Data
2024 audience share for all outlets is based on data provided by ELKA. Cumulative amounts are used to assess the audience share indicator. 2024 and 2021 data on shareholder fractions, company information, revenue, and management are acquired by the collaborative investigative efforts of SEEDS for Legal Initiatives and the Samir Kassir Foundation. Audience share data is unavailable for online outlets.
