HONDURAS CURRENTLY NOT AN AUDIENCE FOR AL-MANAR

S E C R E T TEGUCIGALPA 002572 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR S/CT, NEA, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2015 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV ANET ASEC XF KU SA JO LE HO SUBJECT: HONDURAS CURRENTLY NOT AN AUDIENCE FOR AL-MANAR BROADCASTS ON CABLE SYSTEMS REF: A. SECSTATE 216191 ¶B. SECSTATE 216816 Classified By: Chief of the Political Section Derrick M. Olsen; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) According to contacts of the Public Affairs Section, five cable companies in Honduras carry Arabic language stations, the two main carriers in Tegucigalpa, one in San Pedro Sula, one in Tela, and one in Danli. None appear to carry with the Hezbollah station Al-Manar. The Arabic speaking population of Honduras is predominantly Lebanese or Palestinian Christian immigrant families, most of whom emigrated 50 years or more ago. Based on the fact that Al-Manar apparently does not broadcast in country, Post did not deliver ref B demarche or talking points to Government of Honduras. Please advise if Department determines that Post should still deliver the demarche. ¶2. (S) Cablecolor of Tegucigalpa, Cable Sula of San Pedro Sula, and Saltecab of Tela carry the Saudi Arabia based Arab Radio and Television (ART) network, through Miami. ART was reportedly founded in 1993 as a private network with administrative headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, technical headquarters in Amman, Jordan and production facilities throughout the entire Middle East. According to an internet search, ART began broadcasting with five channels to Europe and the Middle East via Arabsat out of Italy. Since then, they have purchased transmission facilities in Italy and have expanded their offerings and channels. A classified intranet search stated that ART is the key source for Arab Media Corporation (AMC) - the largest Arab news network globally and caters to Arabs living abroad to connect them via their own language. ¶3. (S) Multivision/Amnet of Tegucigalpa carries the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) channel. Its public website says it was launched in August of 1985 and is a private company. In April 1996, a free satellite channel was launched and soon three more channels for Australia, the U.S., and Europe were launched. The channels broadcast 16 - 24 hours a day. A classified Intranet search stated that the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation was established by the Christian Lebanon Forces (LF) militia in 1985 and is a state-owned television service; it broadcasts programs in Arabic, French, and English on two channels. ¶4. (SBU) Astrovision of Danli carries the Kuwaiti-based Kuwait TV, an official TV program of the Kuwaiti government. The Kuwait TV channel offers 24-hour Arabic-language programming delivered. Kuwait TV is part of the Ministry of News and Guidance, now known as the Ministry of Information. ¶5. (SBU) To the Public Affairs Section's best knowledge, cable companies in other Honduran cities do not carry Arabic language television stations. (Note: The Public Affairs Section was unable to obtain detailed information from Televicab in La Ceiba. End Note.) ¶6. (S) The Amazonas satellite (ref A),a Brazilian satellite which broadcasts to North and South America and carries the Al-Manar program according to the Amazonas website, does not appear to be received in Honduras according to Public Affairs Section's contacts in the aforementioned cable companies. Most of the broadcasts received come from the Galaxy Latin America satellite, responsible for DirectTV service to Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Ford