Global InformationIran International information
 | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Persian |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Volant Media UK Ltd |
| History | |
| Launched | 19 May 2017 |
| Links | |
| Website | iranintl.com |
| Frequency | 15630 kHz / 5830 kHz SW |
|---|
Iran International (Persian: ایران اینترنشنال) is a Persian-language news television channel headquartered in London aimed at Iranian viewers,[1] and broadcasting free-to-air by satellite. Iran International was established in May 2017 and has broadcast its programmes from both London and Washington, D.C. In February 2023, Iran International moved its headquarters temporarily to Washington, D.C. due to increased threats from the Iranian government against Iran International's UK-based journalists,[2] but back to London in September 2023.[3] It is available online, via radio and via satellite broadcasting worldwide including Iran. Iran International is owned by Volant Media UK Ltd. and has been charged of being an arm of Saudi Arabia.[4][5]
Iran International claims to have 20 million viewers despite the Iranian government using satellite jammers. The network focuses mostly on news reporting and programming, but also broadcasts programs and documentaries on science, art, technology, sports and culture. The 24 programs with Fardad Farahzad, the first title (تیتر اول) with Nyusha Sarmi (formerly Fardad Farahzad) and the perspective among the news-analytical programs and the window and Hattrick with Mazdak Mirzaei are among its cultural-artistic and sports programs, respectively.[needs copy edit]
The channel has received media attention for its reporting on human rights violations, political developments, LGBTQ+ rights and women's rights in Iran[6][7] and has twice been nominated for International Channel of the Year by the Association for International Broadcasting.[8][9] It is also known that the channel has ties with the Saudi Arabian royal family, with some funding for the channel coming from people closely associated with them,[10][11][12] such that the Iranian government has specified the tethering of Iran International's activities as a prerequisite for normalization of its disturbed diplomatic relations with the Saudi administration.[13] Iran International's management do not deny that they receive funding by Saudi nationals but they do deny that they are linked to any government, including that of Saudi Arabia.[14]
In 2022, an independent survey carried out by the Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran (GAMAAN) and reported by the AIB[8] found that Iran International is the most influential source of independent news in Iran with 33% of the daily audience.[15] More than half of the 27,000 participants surveyed also reported that they trusted Iran International "a lot" or "to some extent".[16] During the Mahsa Amini protests on 9 November 2022, the Iranian Minister of Intelligence Ismail Khatib announced that Iran International had been declared a terrorist organization by the Islamic Republic of Iran, accused by the government of inciting riots protesting the regime.[13][17][18] News sources have reported that the Iranian government is waging an "intimidation campaign" against personnel of the TV station, freezing their assets, interrogating their relatives and "threatening to snatch them from British streets if they do not quit their jobs".[19][20] In February 2023 Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev was charged with terrorism after being caught photographing areas surrounding the studios, and in September Iran International said it was resuming broadcasting from London, UK.[21][22]
- ^ Kerr, Simeon; England, Andrew; O'Murchu, Cynthia (8 January 2019), "Saudi-backed broadcaster launches video challenge to Netflix", Financial Times, retrieved 17 July 2020,
Saudi investors have also established a London-based Persian-language news network, Iran International, to serve Iranian viewers.
- ^ "Iranian TV channel leaves UK after regime threats". 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Reporters Without Borders welcomed the reopening of the Iran International office in London". 25 September 2023.
- ^ "London-based TV channel sparks Iranian leaders' ire amid protests". CNN. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "Volant Media UK Ltd - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk.
- ^ Reid-Smith, Tris (2020-06-17). "How this lesbian TV reporter uses journalism to fight for the LGBT+ community in Iran". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ McKay, Hollie (2020-06-26). "From poisonings to beheadings, 'honor killings' in Iran gets a fresh spotlight with social media". Fox News. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ a b "Iran International TV Leads Popularity Stakes". AIB. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
- ^ "Association for International Broadcasting". Iran International. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
The Guardianwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
WSJwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Saeed Kamali Dehghan (2 October 2018). "Ofcom examining TV network over interview praising attack in Iran". The Guardian.
- ^ a b "Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington". The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Concern over UK-based Iranian TV channel's links to Saudi Arabia". Guardian. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ^ "Iranians' Attitudes Toward Media: A 2021 Survey Report". گَمان - گروه مطالعات افکارسنجی ایرانیان (in Persian). 2021-04-05. Archived from the original on 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- ^ "UK-based TV stations Iran Intl, Manoto 'most popular' among Iranians: Survey". Al Arabiya English. 2021-04-05. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- ^ "Tehran Designates London-Based Iran International News A 'Terrorist' Organization". Radio Farda. 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Iran imposes sanctions on U.K. institutions, individuals for 'inciting riots'". Reuters. 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
- ^ Das, Shanti. "Iran threatens to 'snatch' Farsi reporters from British soil". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ Ball, Tom. "Instagram accused of endangering Iran critics". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ "Citing Threats, Iran International Moves Broadcasts to US". VOA news.
- ^ "Threat-hit Iran International TV resumes London broadcasts". France24.