MTV’s Identity Crisis

Will Murr TV have a bitter after-taste?

Rumors have it that the MTV will be up and running again this Sunday. This is major news: The days when the station was singled out and shut down by force because of its anti-Syrian coverage seem very far away.
But behind the fireworks and the flying Champaign corks, lie uncertain times for the born-again station.

Before it was shut down, the station’s most loyal base was that of the Christian nationalists: Aounists, LFers and other groups were turning away in droves from the more established LBC, which was starting to sound too pro-establishment for their ears. Even non-Christian anti-Syrians found in the young MTV a refreshing boldness and an exciting clarity, especially in when it comes to calling Syrian Spades Spades.

Today, the station is re-opening in a very different political landscape. It has to position itself cleverly if it is to succeed in a highly polarized environment.

Being anti-Syrian is hardly relevant today. All the other major stations can now call themselves anti Syrian (except for Hizballah’s Almanar and Amal’s NBN), so how can MTV distinguish itself from the other stations?

In deciding its editorial policy, MTV will have to make difficult choices.
Will it take the side of Michel Aoun, who has great popularity among its core Christian viewers? Or will it bank on its new iconic nature that symbolized March 14, and join Annahar and Future TV network as a part of the new parliamentary majority?
How “Christian” will the station be? Will it support Walid Jumblat or Emil Lahhoud?

It all depends on Gabriel el Murr, the owner of the station and a man famous for his bad political luck; but we don’t need to speculate too much, the station should be broadcasting again soon, and it won’t be long before we know which direction it’s taking.