The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Press TV, the Iranian state-funded news channel, loses UK licence

The controversial broadcaster has been taken off the air after Ofcom ruled it was in breach of licen

By Samira Shackle Published 20 January 2012 16:32

Press TV, the Iranian state-funded news channel, is to be taken off the air in Britain after Ofcom ruled that it was breaching broadcasting rules.

The channel has responded with outrage, calling the decision "scandalous" and a "clear example of censorship". Its chief executive, Mohammad Sarafraz, said that it was "an act of aggression by the British monarchy" which "will prevent the British from learning the truth". (NB. Iranian TV has form on erroneously calling out the British monarchy)

Yet it is not entirely out of the blue: the controversial broadcaster was threatened with a ban last year, after it emerged that it had aired an interview with Maziar Bahari, a Newsweek journalist, while he was imprisoned in Iran in 2009.

Rather than banning the channel outright, after hearing submissions Ofcom finally settled on a £100,000 fine in December 2011. However, Press TV failed to meet the early January deadline for paying the fine. Ofcom said that the broadcaster has been "unwilling and unable" to pay it.

This is not the only reason that Ofcom has given: it also ruled that Press TV is in breach of broadcasting licence rules in the UK because it runs its editorial insight from Iran's capital, Tehran. The regulator wrote to Press TV about this in November, offering a choice of either switching editorial control for programming to the UK, or to transfer the broadcasting licence to Iran. According to Ofcom, Press TV has not responded.

These technical explanations are all very well, but it is difficult not to view this in the context of escalating tension between Iran and Britain (my colleague Mehdi Hasan has blogged extensively on this). The country's nuclear programme has drawn ire from the west, and in November, Britain closed Iran's embassy in London and expelled all diplomats, after the British embassy in Tehran was attacked by a crowd angry at sanctions.

Certainly, the channel's fans will (rightly or wrongly) view it in this light. In October last year, Press TV ran a poll in which 52 per cent of respondents said that Ofcom's attempts to get the channel taken off air was "an instance of intellectual terrorism". The instant reaction on Twitter shows many concerned about free speech (although others are cheering the decision). Salma Yaqoob, the leader of the Respect Party, tweeted: "Reality is we r seeing increased hostility and preparation for attack on #Iran".

While this has been rumbling on for months, things are now moving fast. Ofcom has contacted BSkyB, which broadcasts Press TV, to tell them to take the channel off the air before the end of the day. It appears the plug has already been pulled, although it can still be viewed online.

Regardless of the technicality -- and certainly, Press TV played a significant part and displayed belligerence by failing to take action -- this move will be seen as highly symbolic. It is yet another area where tension with Iran is escalating.

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

Tags: television Iran

More from Samira Shackle

View the discussion thread.

37 comments

Sat, 2012-01-21 04:37 — Tom (not verified)

The reasons they lost their license? Since Cameron is following Obama's "all Iranians are terrorists" mantra, the first step is getting rid of Press TV. If pushed the govt. can say lots of things. We must maintain "national security". It's in our "national interest" to close them. They couldn't pay their fine, so we had no choice but to shut them down. And so on.

For some reason, people only think of Galloway on Press TV. If they're so dangerous to society, how come various presenters aren't being sanctioned as well (Galloway, Nick Ferrari, James Whale and others)? Or, is it just because you can score bigger political points by disconnecting the whole thing?

How many Sky subscribers will actually act and and cancel instead of just bitching about it? Remains to be seen.

Sat, 2012-01-21 06:13 — south pacific

The only way one can find out how people, governments, etc. in other countries are thinking is to inform yourself through various medium from these countries, such as news through Online outlets or TV programs. One does not have to agree with what one hears or sees or reads but it provides one with more than one view on a particular subject.

I find some of the Western media, eg. the Murdoch lot, objectionable.

This view can only be reached by being exposed to it.

The same applies to others as well.

I rather listen to all kinds of views on a subject and then make my mind up about it than being told I can only have the angle from one point of view such as the one from my own country's media outlets.

I prefer to reach an un-blinkered view of matters I am interested in.

Sat, 2012-01-21 06:25 — south pacific

@yayoo

What's wrong with Al Jazeera??

Half the world's TV stations take feeds from Al Jazeera.

It's array of contributors on it's on line publication is more impressive than those of other so called "renown publications".

Under a dictatorship one only gets a sanatised version of what goes on in the country or the world.

The West seems to be moving in the same direction.

Fortunately in the age of global communication one can get around those restrictions.

Sun, 2012-01-22 21:08 — teresa (not verified)

There are loads of channels I dislike as much as PressTV but they still air in the UK. Fox TV - of course - and then there are the religious stations which really take the piss begging for money on air - one or two pushing a blatantly one-sided political line on the Middle East. I'd keep Press on air but include a warning - perhaps - to indicate the content was government censored.

Mon, 2012-01-23 09:27 — Julia Harris (not verified)

The two faces of Al Jazeera

* Oren Kessler: While the Obama administration continues to court Al Jazeera as part of its signature foreign policy goal of improving ties with the Arab and Muslim worlds, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauds the channel as “real news,” a vast gulf still separates the channel’s English iteration from the original Arabic, which fifteen years after its birth continues to promote anti-Americanism, Sunni sectarianism, Islamism, and occasional anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.

* While Al Jazeera English continues to put on a more moderate face for show to Westerners, the real Al Jazeera, the Arabic version, is a different story.

* For example, it threw an on-air party for Samir Kuntar, who had savagely murdered two Israelis in 1979, including a 4-year old girl: “Brother Samir, we wish to celebrate with you,” crowed the station’s Beirut bureau chief, hailing Kuntar as a “hero.” The channel also praised Hitler.

* In spite of this, Dana Shell Smith – the first deputy assistant U.S. secretary of state for international media engagement and an Arabic speaker – described Al Jazeera Arabic as a “really important media entity” with which the administration has a “really great relationship.”

* Over 50 percent of Palestinians use Al Jazeera Arabic as their primary news source. The way the pro-Hamas channel covers any prospective Israeli-Palestinian agreement signed by Fatah will fundamentally shape how such a deal is viewed – and whether it is accepted – by the Palestinian public.

http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/001251.html

Fri, 2012-01-20 16:57 — David Lindsay

If you want news in Britain, then watch Al Jazeera. Or Russia Today. Or, until today, Press TV.

On 9th November, Press TV reported the student demonstration in London while the BBC and Sky News refused to, instead pretending that it was not happening. But today, Fox "News" and its Sky and Beeb wannabes have got what they wanted through their servants at Ofcom, which acts for all practical purposes as an arm of whichever rogue element in the Foreign Office has secured the appointment of the current Ambassador to Israel, a man who publicly aspires to citizenship of the country to which he has been posted, and who has apologised for the arrest of Tzipi Livni's anti-British terrorist parents.

As confirmed by the resignation of Liam Fox, the Prime Minister and 80 per cent of his ostensible party's MPs are in reality members of Likud, which openly sits in government with a party, that of the Foreign Minister, which wants to denaturalise the Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox Jews. Al Jazeera and Russia Today, watch out.

Fri, 2012-01-20 17:14 — Des Demona (not verified)

Hang on a sec, where does Fox News run its 'editorial insight' from?

Fri, 2012-01-20 17:17 — Andrew (not verified)

about time

Fri, 2012-01-20 17:29 — Vegetable Man (not verified)

A Western democracy banning a news channel? I thought that it was only the likes of North Korea and Burma that sank to such depths?

Where are the liberal champions of free speech now? Or is freedom of speech only important for fascists and pornographers?

Fri, 2012-01-20 17:48 — M.A (not verified)

Press TV is an alternative voice which goes against the ideology of the British and American empires - Thats really the only reason they have taken it off air...those same countries who invaded Afaganistan and Iraq amongst countless others..and now all this they need to build up a case for wanting to go into Iran..

How hypocritcal of them to site "Democracy" and "Freedom of Speech?"

Am curious to know @ Andrew..why "about time?"

Sun, 2012-01-22 11:24 — persiancat

To the apologists for Press TV. NO MENTION of the fact that should employee's of BBC Staff return to their home Country they will be arrested and banged up in one of Iran's jails that resemble torture chambers. NO MENTION of the fact that the Iranian regime constantly jam channels that are broadcasting material they do not approve of.....and if David Lindsay did not see any coverage of the student riots (not demo)on the BBC and Sky then he must be living in Iran. I DOUBT IT. He loves freedom !

Sun, 2012-01-22 11:51 — persiancat

Question - in the interests of balance, was there as much coverage on Press TV of the disputed 2009 election demo (Iran) as there was of the student riots (London). Did Press TV produce a panorama style documentary on the arrest, abuse and torture of Iranian nationals taking part in those 2009 demo's ? I say again to David Lindsay "ISN'T FREEDOM GREAT" !

Fri, 2012-01-20 18:59 — Vegetable Man (not verified)

"Freedom of speech only for those we agree with!". Oh how the brave crusaders for censorship begin to appear!

Where are the editorial decisions taken for Fox News or Russia Today or CCTV?

Fri, 2012-01-20 19:03 — Julia Harris (not verified)

Happy Days, pour myself a nice Glass of non Halal Wine to celebrate...;)

Fri, 2012-01-20 19:27 — JimmyRushmore (not verified)

About bloody time. This disgusting channel, a mouthpiece for one of the most vile regimes on the planet, that routinely stones female rape victims to death, hangs homosexuals, and crushes dissent has no place on our airwaves.

Fri, 2012-01-20 20:20 — mattwardman

@davidlindsay
"On 9th November, Press TV reported the student demonstration in London while the BBC and Sky News refused to, instead pretending that it was not happening."

B*ll*cks. They were all over it.

http://www.lbc.co.uk/9th-nov-student-protests-as-they-happened-47137

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16106754

Fri, 2012-01-20 20:42 — David Lindsay

I was watching, and they were not. It was only by flicking through the news channels and arriving at 515 that I found out about it at all. Next time, no one ever will.

Now, where does one apply to be on the apparently necessary "Independent Editorial Board" of, say, Fox? Or Sky News? Or the BBC News Channel?

Sun, 2012-01-22 15:30 — Fraziel1

Anyone know what its viewing figures were? Doesnt Iran censor tv channels regularly?

Fri, 2012-01-20 21:39 — Neil Clark1

Vegetable man: "Where are the liberal champions of free speech now? "
The "liberal champions of free speech" were the ones who wanted Press TV off the air. In the name of 'freedom' and 'democracy' we're not allowed to see an alternative view of Middle Eastern events. One which challenges the dominant narrative that Iran, with its non-existence nuclear weapons programme, poses a threat to the West.

Today is a black day for press freedom in the UK.

http://neilclark66.blogspot.com/2012/01/ofcom-removes-press-tvs-licence-...

Fri, 2012-01-20 21:51 — Yakoub (not verified)

I'm not a fan of Press TV, although I was an occasional viewer - it wasn't all bad, it's just that I'm not a fan of the Iranian government, or indeed anything associated with it. But this decision strikes me as extraordinarily censorious.

Fri, 2012-01-20 21:57 — JimmyRushmore (not verified)

They interviewed Maziar Bahari, under threat of execution, with an Iranian government minder supplying PressTV with questions to be asked.

How can anyone possibly defend this behaviour? Shame on you all

Fri, 2012-01-20 22:17 — Neil Clark1

Essential reading on why Press TV was banned:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/01/20/britain-bans-press-tv/