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Press TV
CountryIran
HeadquartersTehran, Iran
Programming
Language(s)English
French
Ownership
OwnerIslamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting

Press TV (stylised as PRESSTV) is an Iranian state-controlled news and documentary network that broadcasts in the English and French-language. It is affiliated with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).[1] The channel was launched on 3 July 2007 and is headquartered in Tehran.[2] The service is aimed at overseas markets.

Press TV has been accused of broadcasting conspiracy theories, including antisemitic canards, of promoting Iranian foreign policy, and of airing forced confessions of prisoners.[3][4][5]

Background and purpose

Iran's first international English-language TV channel was established in 1976.[6] Later in 1997, Sahar TV started its work, broadcasting in multiple languages including English.[6]

PressTV shooting at University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Press TV was created for the purpose of presenting news, images and arguments, especially on Middle Eastern affairs, to counter the news coverage that appears on broadcasts such those of BBC World News, CNN International and Al Jazeera English.[7][8]

According to mediachannel.org, "the government aims to use Press TV to counter what it sees as a steady stream of Western propaganda against Iran as well as offer an alternative view of world news."[9]

Press TV CEO Mohammad Sarafraz said in a June 2007 press conference that, "Since September 11, Western bias has divided the media into two camps: those that favour their policies make up one group and the rest of the media are attached to radical Islamic groups like Al-Qaeda. We want to show that there is a different view. Iran, and the Shi'as in particular, have become a focal point of world propaganda. From the media point of view, we are trying to give a second eye to Western audiences."[10]

By launching an English-language television network to promote an Iranian perspective of the world, together with an Arab-language station, the Al-Alam News Network, the Iranian government said it hoped "to address a global audience exposed to misinformation and mudslinging as regards the Islamic Republic of Iran."[11] The two networks focus on "difficult issues in the Middle East such as the United States’ occupation of neighbouring Iraq and the Shiite question."[12]

Launch and management

The network's website launched in late January 2007.[13] Test satellite transmissions were conducted in late April 2007. The channel launched on 3 July 2007.[14][15]

Press TV is state-funded[16] and is a division of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the only legal TV and radio broadcaster inside the country.[17] IRIB's head is appointed directly by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; according to The Guardian, it is close to the country's conservative political faction, especially the elite Revolutionary Guards.[18] Press TV's headquarters are located in Tehran.

As of 2009, the annual budget of Press TV is 250 Billion rials (more than US$8.3 million).[19]

Press TV began its activities in London during 2007. Roshan Muhammed Salih was Press TV's London news editor and chief correspondent.[20]

Controversies

Main article: Press TV controversies

Responses

The BBC journalist Linda Pressly has described Press TV as pro-Palestinian, opposed to sanctions against Iran, and critical of Western foreign policy.[21]

The station has been criticized for "anti-Americanism" and "uncritical embrace of conspiracy theories".[citation needed] Nick Ferrari, a former presenter of one of Press TV's shows, told The Times that Press TV's news coverage had been "reasonably fair" until the 2009 election—but not any longer.[22] For British journalist Nick Cohen the station is "a platform for the full fascist conspiracy theory of supernatural Jewish power"[23] and for commentator Douglas Murray it is the "Iranian government’s propaganda channel".[24]

However, Mehdi Hasan of the New Statesman has argued that "engaging with Iran, no matter who is in charge in Tehran, is a prerequisite for peace and progress in the region. The very fact that Press TV is Iranian-owned makes it the ideal English-language platform on which to do so."[25]

In 2012, a report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) alleged that Press TV has broadcast what the ADL described as examples of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and opinions.[26] The report criticizes Press TV for interviewing or providing commentary space for individuals such as David Duke who are referred to in the report as "American anti-Semites, conspiracy theorists and Holocaust deniers, who help amplify the Iranian regime's hateful messages".[26]

Sanctions

On 3 April 2012, Munich-based media regulator Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien [de] (BLM), announced it was removing Press TV from the SES Astra satellite, as it did not have a licence to broadcast in Europe.[27] In September 2012 the High Administrative Court of Bavaria confirmed the regulatory authority's decision.

In May 2011, Ofcom ruled that Press TV was responsible for a serious breach of UK broadcasting rules by airing a 10 second interview with Maziar Bahari, accepting that it had been obtained under duress while he was held in a Tehran jail.[28] A fine of £100,000 was eventually imposed in November 2011.[29] Geoffrey Alderman attacked the Ofcom decision, describing it. as "thoroughly deplorable as well as palpably cynical".[30] Defenders of Press TV[31] have referred to a formerly secret American diplomatic cable which says the British Government was at the time "exploring ways to limit the operations of the IRIB's Press TV service"[32]

Google blocked Press TV access to their Gmail and YouTube in April 2019; although the latter remained active no new content could be added.[33] YouTube removed Press TV UK from its platform in January 2020. Press TV accused Google, which owns YouTube, of censorship. The Press TV UK channel appeared after the original was removed.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Country Profile: Iran". BBC News. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  2. ^ "PressTV-About PressTV". presstv.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  3. ^ https://en.radiofarda.com/amp/youtube-deleted-iran-press-tv-s-british-account-for-anti-israeli-propaganda-/30403901.html
  4. ^ https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/us-sanctions-campaign-may-close-irans-foreign-antisemitic-news-outlets-631205/
  5. ^ https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2020/02/14/torture-and-television/
  6. ^ a b "نقش شبکه های برون مرزی سیما در تعمیق پیوندهای منطقه ای". اخبار سینمای ایران و جهان - سینماپرس (in Persian). 6 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Iran launches English TV channel". BBC News. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
  8. ^ "Iran launches 'alternative' news - CNN.com". cnn.com. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Mediachannel". Archived from the original on 8 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Iran launches English TV news station". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  11. ^ Ekhtiari, Khosro (15 September 2009). "A Guided Tour of Press TV". Gozaar. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  12. ^ Sanati, Kimia (4 July 2007). "New TV Channel to Focus on Iraq, Shia Issues". IPS. Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  13. ^ "IRIB-Iran launches Press TV website". ISNA. Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. 24 January 2007. Archived from the original on 20 December 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  14. ^ "Iran Launches English Satellite Channel". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 26 June 2007. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  15. ^ "Media Environment Guide: Iran" (PDF). BBC Monitoring. 30 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  16. ^ Fathi, Nazila (2 July 2007). "Iran expands role in media, via satellite and in English". New York Times. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  17. ^ Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (6 February 2014). "Rouhanicare: Iran's president promises healthcare for all by 2018". The Guardian. ... IRIB is independent of the Iranian government and its head is appointed directly by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is the only legal TV and radio broadcaster inside the country but millions of Iranians watch foreign-based channels via illegal satellite dishes on rooftops. ...
  18. ^ Rouhanicare: Iran's president promises healthcare for all by 2018. World news | The Guardian.
  19. ^ "بودجه پرس تی‌وی 25 میلیارد تومان است / میزان پخش فیلم‌های ایرانی و خارجی متعادل می‌شود". Mehr News. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  20. ^ Salih, Roshan Muhammed (1 December 2008). "Press TV launches on Sky". Arab Media Watch. Archived from the original on 13 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  21. ^ Linda Pressly. "Iran's battle for TV influence takes shape on Press TV". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  22. ^ Martin Fletcher (1 July 2009). "Presenter Nick Ferrari quits Iran Press TV over bias after election". The Times. London.
  23. ^ Nick Cohen "Who will rid us of hate channels such as Press TV?", The Observer, 4 December 2011
  24. ^ Douglas Murray "Push off now, Press TV, and take your conspiracy theories with you", The Spectator (blog), 20 January 2012
  25. ^ Mehdi Hasan "Book me a slot on Press TV", New Statesman (blog), 16 July 2009
  26. ^ a b "Iran's Press TV: Broadcasting Anti-Semitism To English-Speaking World". Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  27. ^ Iran slams BBC over film about Israel relations, Jerusalem Post, 7 April 2012
  28. ^ Sweney, Mark (23 May 2011). "Iran's Press TV censured for interview with arrested journalist". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  29. ^ Patrick Foster "Ofcom reverses decision to revoke licence of Iran's Press TV", The Guardian, 30 November 2011
  30. ^ Geoffrey Alderman "Suppressing Press TV is deplorable – Ofcom should restore its licence now", The Guardian, 24 January 2012
  31. ^ Linda Pressly "Iran's battle for TV influence takes shape on Press TV", The Report, BBC Radio 4, 29 December 2011
  32. ^ Cable cited at "US embassy cables: Retaliation planned after Iran jammed BBC broadcasts", The Guardian (website), 5 December 2010
  33. ^ Doffman, Zak (23 April 2019). "Google Cuts YouTube Access For Iran's Press TV And Hispan TV 'Without Any Warning'". Forbes. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  34. ^ Moore, Matthew (29 January 2020). "YouTube deletes Iranian channel Press TV UK for flouting ban". The Times. Retrieved 29 January 2020. (subscription required)

External links

Media related to Press TV at Wikimedia Commons

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