Press TV

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Press TV
194px
Launched	2 July 2007
Owned by	Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting[1][2]
Picture format	16:9 (576i, SDTV)
Slogan	News anew
Country	Iran
Language	English, Persian[3]
Broadcast area	Worldwide
Headquarters	Tehran, Iran
Sister channel(s)	IRINN, Al-Alam News Network, HispanTV
Website	Presstv.ir
Availability
Satellite
Optus D2 Pacific Rim	12706 / 22500 / 3/4 V
AsiaSat 3S South Asia	12352 / 30000 / 3/4 V 12640 / 17850 / 2/3 V
AsiaSat 5 Asia	3660 / 27500 / 3/4 V
Intelsat 10 Africa & Europe	12562 / 26657 / 1/2 H
Intelsat 902 Middle East	11555 / 27500 / 3/4 V
Arabsat 5A Middle East	3660 / 27500 / 3/4 V
Nilesat 103/104 Middle East	11227 / 27500 / 3/4 V
Badr 4 Middle East	12054 / 27500 3/4 V
Eutelsat Hot Bird 13B Europe	12437 / 27500 / 3/4 H 12015 / 27500 / 3/4 H
Hispasat 1C Latin America	12172 / 27500 / 3/4 H
Galaxy 19 North America	12053 / 22000 / 3/4 V
Eutelsat 7A Europe	11186 / 2892 / 5/6 V
Badr 5 Central Asia	12303 / 27500 / 3/4 H 11881 / 27500 /5/6 H
Eutelsat 36A Africa	12284 / 27500 / 3/4 H
NSS-12 East Africa	11604 / 45000 / 3/4 H
Internet television
Live Webcast	Free (Flash)
Video On Demand	VOD (free Windows Media stream)
Livestation	Free, 502 Kbit/s
YouTube channel	PressTVGlobalNews

Press TV is a 24-hour English language world news network owned by the state-owned media corporation Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran. Press TV features contributions from reporters and commentators based in Washington, Damascus, Beirut, London, and Seoul, among other locations around the world.

The station has been criticised for its uncritical embrace of provocative stances. For British journalist Nick Cohen the station is "a platform for the full fascist conspiracy theory of supernatural Jewish power"^[4] and for commentator Douglas Murray it is the "Iranian government’s propaganda channel".^[5]

Responding to Cohen and others, George Galloway, the British MP and Press TV's best-known UK presenter, has said it "challenges the prevailing orthodoxy" by providing an outsider perspective on "the truth and a voice for the otherwise voiceless".^[6] 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."^[7]

Background[link]

Mohammad Sarafraz (Press TV CEO) 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."^[8]

The network's official vision is "to heed the voices and perspectives of the people of the world; build bridges of cultural understanding; encourage human beings of different nationalities, races and creeds to identify with one another; bring to light untold and overlooked stories of individuals who have experienced political and cultural divides firsthand."^[9] Sarafraz explained that "our experience tells us that pictorial reflection of news and the use of images are more effective than discussion and analysis."^[10]

History of website and satellite TV launch[link]

The channel's website launched in late January 2007.^[11] Test satellite transmissions were conducted in late April 2007. The launch date for the channel was 3 July 2007.^[12] The launch of the channel was attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.^[13] On 18 March 2009, Press TV launched a new website with a modified graphical user interface.^[14] Press TV upgraded to widescreen format on 17 November 2011. The aspect ratio is now 16:9 instead of 4:3.^[15] It is the first Iranian channel to upgrade its screen size to this format, and the first international news network based in the Middle East to do so after Al Jazeera English.

Funding and management[link]

Press TV is state-funded^[16] and is a division of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

The annual budget of Press TV is 250 billion rials (more than 25 million US$).^[17]

Press TV broadcasts news reports and analyses which are close to the official position of the Iranian government, and its programmes are monitored and regulated by the Islamic Republic.^[18][19] Although there have been attempts to establish private, independent media outlets in Iran, notably by former Iranian Presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, the 1979 Constitution of the Islamic Republic mandates that "all broadcasting must exclusively be government-operated."^[20]

Coverage[link]

Press TV offers round-the-clock news bulletins every half-hour, a series of repeating commentary programmes and round-table panel discussions, as well as documentary-style political films. In May 2009, Press TV CEO Mohammad Sarafraz announced that Press TV would "provide viewers with more newscasts while cutting down on its news analysis programs."^[10]

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.^[21]

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."^[22] Iranian analyst and Press TV writer Khorosh Ziabari agreed that it is "objectionable" for Press TV to serve as a government mouthpiece, though he pointed out that other stations, notably France 24, are also funded by national governments to disseminate propaganda and news from a national point of view.^[23]

By launching an English-language television channel to promote an Iranian perspective of the world, together with an Arab-language station, the Al-Alam News Network, the Iranian government hoped “to address a global audience exposed to misinformation and mudslinging as regards the Islamic Republic of Iran."^[24] The two networks focus on "difficult issues in the Middle East such as the United States’ occupation of neighbouring Iraq and the Shiite question."^[20]

Press TV gas been described as a mouthpiece for the Iranian government by its critics. The BBC journalist Linda Pressly described it as pro-Palestinian, anti-sanctions against Iran, and critical of Western foreign policy.^[25] 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.^[26]

Personnel[link]

Sarafraz announced^[27] at the broadcast channel's launch press conference that Press TV intended to have correspondents in cities outside Iran, as well as four correspondents covering the Israel-Palestine conflict from Gaza, Ramallah and Jerusalem. He announced that many of Press TV's foreign-based staff and freelance correspondents would be non-Iranians and that training for some of the staff had been provided by "a BBC employee."^[27]

Iran staff[link]

News anchors have included: Kaveh Taghvai, Arash Zahedi, Saeid Pourreza, Hassan Tavakoli, Kaneez Fatima, Homa Lezgee, Bardia Honardar, Waqar Rizvi, Behrouz Nadjafi, Nargess Moballeghi and Marzieh Hashemi. Also anchoring Sports International news in Tehran is Sheena Shirani, Junot Castelyn and Amir Hossein Eskandar.

Before returning to London, Afshin Rattansi, a former journalist and producer with BBC's Today program, CNN International, Bloomberg and Al Jazeera Arabic, also anchored from Press TV's HQ in Tehran.

Amir Arfa hosts a Press TV media criticism show called Fine Print. Arfa's show used to feature live debates among guests appearing by satellite, a format that has fallen out of favor with the station's management.^[10] Arfa admits that his guest roster is skewed, but blamed most major media organisations for their reluctance to allow their reporters to appear on Press TV, even when the reporters themselves are willing. "If the lineup of guests seems lop-sided, its not our fault," Arfa said in an interview. "We try hard to have a balanced show, but the mainstream media shuts you out."^[28]

North American staff[link]

Press TV maintains a presence in the United States through intermediary companies. For instance, the discussion program American Dream is produced in Washington, DC by Atlantic Television News (ATN) which is based in Denmark,^[29]. It had previously been hosted by Mark Levine, who quit the show after alleging editorial interference.^[30][31] Hank Flynn in New York and Ashantai Hathaway in Washington DC are freelance video journalists for Press TV in the US. ^[32]

Correspondent in Madrid.

International Correspondents[link]

Press TV hires freelance journalists Kevin MacDermott in Dublin, Catherine Makino in Tokyo, Ali Rizk in Beirut, Anustup Roy in Paris, Danjuma Abdullahi in Abuja, Constanza Heller in Buenos Aires, Daniel Pizzaro in Sydney, Joseph Kim in Seoul, Max Civili in San Felice Sul Panaro, Yousef Mawry in Sa'ada, Hanna Qassis in Ramallah, Natalie Carney in Istanbul, Lizzie Phelan in Managua, Joshua Blakeney in Victoria, Margarita Bogdanova in Moscow, Mahmoud Hussain in Benghazi, Yaldaz Sadakova in Brussels, Sanjay Sethi in New Delhi, Aamer Trambu in Mumbai, Ivana Sethic in Sarajevo, Karim Gamal el-Deen in Cairo, Kamran Yousaf in Islamabad, Mohamad Ali in Damascus and Steven Ribet in Beijing.

^[33]

UK base[link]

Press TV began its activities in London during 2006. Roshan Muhammed Salih is Press TV's news editor and chief correspondent.^[34] Other London correspondents include Fareena Alam and Hassan Ghani. Matthew Richardson is Press TV's legal adviser in London.^[34]

Maziar Bahari and UK licence revocation[link]

In June 2010, Channel 4, the British broadcaster, transmitted a programme featuring Maziar Bahari, a documentary maker and Newsweek contributor, who was arrested while covering the Iranian presidential election in 2009, and held in custody for 118 days. He alleged that a Press TV interview and 'confession' had been preceded by torture, and was given under the threat of execution.^[35] Bahari, now a British resident, complained to Ofcom, the regulatory authority for the telecommunication industries in the United Kingdom.^[35]

In May 2011, Ofcom ruled that Press TV was responsible for a serious breach of UK broadcasting rules by airing the interview with Maziar Bahari, accepting that it had been obtained under duress while he was held in a Tehran jail.^[36] Press TV rejected Ofcom's findings and accused Bahari of being "an MI6 contact person".^[37] A fine of £100,000 ($155,000 in January 2012) was eventually imposed in November 2011, reversing an initial decision to revoke Press TV's licence.^[38] Press TV responded: "The British royal family exercises an overarching power over all branches in the political system of the [UK], including the government and the parliament, as well as on Ofcom."^[38] At the beginning of December, The Observer journalist Nick Cohen called for Ofcom to revoke the station's broadcast licence, not only because behaviour towards Maziar Bahari, but in addition:

"If whites ran Press TV, one would have no difficulty in saying it was a neo-Nazi network. It welcomes British Holocaust-deniers such as Nicholas Kollerstrom, fascist ideologues such as Peter Rushton, the leader of the White Nationalist party – an organisation that disproves the notion that the only thing further to the right of the BNP is the wall..."^[4]

On 20 January 2012, Press TV's licence to broadcast in the UK was revoked by Ofcom.^[39] The investigation into the Bahari case had revealed the applying company's direct connection to Tehran, and that editorial control came from there. An invitation to change this in the licence had not been taken up by Press TV.^[40] The unpaid fine was not the reason why Ofcom ended Press TV's licence.^[41]

Geoffrey Alderman, the British historian and occasional Press TV contributor, attacked the Ofcom decision, and called for it to be reversed.^[42] Defenders of Press TV, including Alderman and the broadcaster's legal representative, Farooq Bajwa,^[43] have referred to a formerly secret American diplomatic cable dated 4 February 2010. Later released by WikiLeaks, it says the British Government was at time “exploring ways to limit the operations of the IRIB's Press TV service”. This 'exploration' was in response to the jamming by the Iranian government of broadcasts by the BBC Persian Service and the Voice of America, also mentioned in the document^[44] and mentioned by Alderman.

Removal from Astra satellite[link]

On 3 April 2012, Munich-based media regulator BLM announced it was removing Press TV from the SES Astra satellite as they did not have a licence to broadcast in Europe.^[45][46] PressTV is appealing against this decision.

Current presenters[link]

• Lauren Booth, anti-war activist and sister-in-law to former British prime minister Tony Blair, presents Remember Palestine and The Diaspora.
• Derek Conway, another former Member of Parliament, presents Epilogue and Comment, on occasion.
• George Galloway, a British Member of Parliament,^[47] presents Comment and The Real Deal.^[48]
• Max Keiser, a financial journalist, hosts On the Edge.^[49]
• Tariq Ramadan presents Islam & Life.
• Yvonne Ridley, the former Al Jazeera^[50] and Sunday Express journalist^[27] presents The Agenda and Rattansi & Ridley.
• Amina Taylor presents The Big Story and Remember Palestine. She used to present Between the Headlines, before the end of the series.

Former presenters[link]

• Andrew Gilligan is a journalist who resigned from Press TV after he said that "taking the Iranian shilling was inconsistent with my opposition to Islamism.^[51] Prior to his departure, Gilligan hosted The Forum that consisted of a "regular discussion show on the station, in which Islamism, and the policies of the Iranian government, were often debated and challenged."^[51]
• Ken Livingstone, a former Mayor of London.^[52] He hosted Epilogue, a monthly book review program, and Comment on occasion.^[53]
• James Whale

Current programmes[link]

• Africa Today – Analytical weekly review of political, economic and social events in Africa, the world's second largest continent.^[54]
• The Agenda – A political commentary show hosted by Yvonne Ridley formerly broadcast on the Islam Channel.^[27]
• American Dream – A political round-table offering a "warts-and-all" picture of life in the USA from ghettos to gated communities.^[55]
• Anti-Semitism Rising, Why? – A debate show on the difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism presented by Alan Hart.^[56]
• Autograph – A 25min weekly interview with academics, authors, politicians and dignitaries encompassing a range of topics from cultural to political issues hosted by Susan Modaress.^[57]
• CinePolitics – A weekly 25-minute show. The show examines current cinematic releases, and explores the underlying political and social issues that shape them.^[58]
• Comment – A live show from London hosted by George Galloway. The format allows a studio audience to ask the presenter questions or argue with him.^[59]
• East Asia Now – "Piercing questions, challenging experts, backed up by other opinions, statistics, as well as comments and questions from correspondents on East Asian stories."^[60]
• Fine Print – A twice-weekly analysis of on-line mainstream media hosted by Amir Arfa.^[61]
• Forum – A debate programme presented by the former BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan, featuring Nick Ferrari and others.^[62]
• Iran – A 25-minute weekly show covering topical issues on Iran plus reports and interviews on major cultural events held in the country over the week. The show is hosted by Setareh Ghane.^[63]
• Iran Today – a show aired 5 times a week examining various issues about Iran in the presence of a panel of guests.^[64]
• Islam & Life – A weekly show presented by Tariq Ramadan in London, dealing with the challenges and opportunities facing Muslims, especially in the west.^[65]
• Middle East Press – A daily review of regional newspapers, highlighting views on issues impacting the region, hosted by Nadine Mazloum and Serena Shim in Beirut.
• Rattansi & Ridley – A chat show aboard the only floating TV studio in the world, hosted by veteran award-winning journalists, Afshin Rattansi and Yvonne Ridley.^[66]
• The Real Deal – A wide-ranging weekly show by George Galloway.^[48]
• Remember the Children of Palestine – A weekly 1-hour show hosted by Lauren Booth and Amina Taylor covering issues that concern children living in Palestine, including music, films, photos, poems and artwork made in aid of their remembrance.^[67]
• Reporters' File – A weekly reportage-oriented programme, dealing with various Iranian and world stories, from a local correspondent's perspective. The show was formerly produced & hosted by Joobin Zarvan; it is now produced and presented by Saeed Pourreza.^[68]

Former programmes[link]

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• Between the Headlines – A review of the day's headlines hosted by Mark Watts, Lauren Booth, Afshin Rattansi, Amina Taylor^[69] and Jan Fossgard, aired live from London.
• Canon – A 25-minute weekly show debating the legal perspective on the social and political issues around the world.^[70]
• Energy World – A 25-minute weekly show, dealing with current energy issues together with their political undercurrents, presented by former Russia Today host Amanda Burt.^[71]
• Epilogue – A 25-minute weekly programme on literature, featuring interviews with writers and critics, hosted by Derek Conway, Bob Stewart, Hugo de Burgh and James Whale.^[72]
• EuroFocus – Presented by Roshan Muhammed Salih and Fareena Alam, offers a weekly round-up of news and features from all over Europe.^[72]
• 4Corners – 25 minutes of live daily news commentary panel discussion, hosted by Shahab Mossavat, Joobin Zarvan and Nargess Moballeghi, broadcast from Tehran. The show covers critical news stories from across the globe.^[73]
• Hart of the Matter – A show where veteran broadcast journalist Alan Hart engages a host of intellectuals, investigative journalists and activists, amongst others, in conversation.^[74]
• Hearts and Minds^[75] – 45 Minute Panel Discussion on U.S. Foreign Policy produced in New York City. For several months, "Hearts and Minds" was presented by Alan Weisman^{[76][not in citation given]} (former producer of the Charlie Rose Show, and author of biographies of retired CBS newsman Dan Rather and defence expert Richard Perle^[76]) After Weisman, hosting duties were taken over by former "4 Corners" presenter Susan Modaress,^[77] who later hosted her own program, "Autograph."^[78] Stephanie Woods, a former reporter for the MTV News political news program Street Team '08,^{[79][dead link]} assumed the role of host in June 2009 until the program's last broadcast on 30 September 2009.^[80]
• Middle East Today – 25 minutes of daily panel discussion on the region's most news-making events, broadcast live from Tehran, formerly hosted by Chris Gelken and Joobin Zarvan and Marziyeh Hashemi. The show is also aired on weekends, from Beirut by Mariam Saleh and Marlin Dick and Zeinab Safar.^[81]
• Minbar – A weekly Q&A about Islam presented by Ahmad Haneef.^[82]
• Off The Cuff – Another audience-driven programme hosted by James Whale and Mike Mendoza. The show focuses on controversial issues where the presenter asks the questions around the theme and the audience express their views.^[83]
• Outside the Box – A weekly 25-minute show hosted by Tina Richards.
• Women's Voice – A programme made by women for women. The show scrutinizes the status of women in the West and deals with their common issues, challenges and upheavals.
• World Week Watch – Half-hour round-up of world events by Oscar Reyes and Kristiane Backer.
• The Link - A weekly debate-driven talk show incorporating both experts and a studio audience dealing with a wide range of political, social, economic,environmental, sports and cultural issues affecting the world at large. Hosted by Joobin Zarvan & Amir Arfa.

See also[link]

	Iran portal
	Television portal

• Press TV controversies
• IRIB
• National Iranian Radio & Television
• Media in Iran

References[link]