Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
Type Broadcast radio, television and online
Availability National
International 
Owner Government of Iran (publicly owned)
Key people
Mohammad Sarafraz (Director-General)
Ali Darabi (Deputy Director-General)
Launch date
1926 (radio)
1958 (television)
1966 (incorporated)
Official website
http://www.irib.ir/

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, or IRIB (Persian: صدا و سيمای جمهوری اسلامی ايران, Sedā va Sima-ye Jomhūrī-ye Eslāmī-ye Īrān, literally Voice (or Sound) and Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran), formerly called the National Iranian Radio and Television until the Islamic revolution of 1979, is a Iranian media corporation which hold the monopoly of domestic radio and television services in the Islamic Republic of Iran, is also among the largest media organizations in Asian and Pacific region, and a regular member of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.[1] IRIB is independent of the Iranian government and its head is appointed directly by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[2]

With 1,200 employees and branches in 45 countries worldwide, including France, Belgium, Malaysia, United Kingdom, the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting offers both domestic and foreign radio and television services, broadcasting 8 domestic television channels, 4 international news television channels, six satellite television channels for international audiences, and 30 provincial television channel available countrywide and of which make use of local accents or dialects. The IRIB provides twelve radio stations for domestic audiences and through the IRIB World Service thirty radio stations are available for foreign and international audiences.[3] In addition also publishes the Persian-language newspaper Jaam-e Jam.[4]

IRIB's place in Iran's civil code

According to Article 175 of the Iranian constitution,

  1. The freedom of expression and dissemination of thoughts in the Radio and Television of the Islamic Republic of Iran must be guaranteed in keeping with the Islamic criteria and the best interests of the country.
  2. The appointment and dismissal of the head of the Radio and Television of the Islamic Republic of Iran rests with the Leader. A council consisting of two representatives each of the President, the head of the judiciary branch, and the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Iranian parliament shall supervise the functioning of this organization.
  3. The policies and the manner of managing the organization and its supervision will be determined by law.
IRIB's northeast gate along Valiasr Street, Tehran

Prior to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, IRIB was known as National Iranian Radio & Television (NIRT).[5]

The constitution further specifies that the director of the organization is chosen directly by the Supreme Leader for five years, and the head of the judiciary branch, the president, the Islamic Consultative Assembly oversee the organization.[5] The first director after 1979 Revolution was Sadeq Qotbzadeh. The current director is Ezzatollah Zarghami. The previous directors included Ali Larijani and Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani. Sima Festival is the biggest and most important TV productions contest sponsoring annually by IRIB organization. Winners are the best producers, directors, actors and directors in various categories honored by organization's head and receive valuable prizes.

Facts about IRIB

Affiliates

Broadcast sanctions

On 24 March 2012 IRIB Director Ezzatollah Zarghami was added to the 2010 European Union (EU) sanctions list. According to the EU, IRIB has broadcast forced confessions of detainees and a series of "show trials" in August 2009 and December 2011. These constitute a clear violation of international provisions on fair trial and the right to due process.[7] On February 6, 2014 the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that the U.S. government will temporarily lift sanctions on IRIB, with officials saying "harmful satellite interference" was no longer coming out of Iran to block foreign channels. The sanctions were put in place in February of the previous year when the U.S. accused the broadcaster of jammimg signals during elections and Arab Spring protests to "prevent audiences from seeing foreign broadcasts that the Iranian government found objectionable."[8]

Director-Generals

# President Years Time in post
1 Reza Ghotbi 1966–1979 13 years
2 Sadegh Ghotbzadeh 1979–1981 2 years
Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha (acting) 1981–1984 3 years
3 Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani 1984–1994 10 years
4 Ali Larijani 1994–2004 10 years
5 Ezzatollah Zarghami 2004–2014 10 years
6 Mohammad Sarafraz 2014–present in post

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ayse, Valentine; Nash, Jason John; Leland, Rice (January 2013). "The Business Year 2013: Iran". London, U.K.: The Business Year. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-908180-11-7.
  2. Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (6 February 2014). "Rouhanicare: Iran's president promises healthcare for all by 2018". theguardian.com. 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. ...
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Comments Press TV.
  4. "IRIB at a glance". Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Pahlavi, Pierre (May 2012). "Understanding Iran’s Media Diplomacy" (PDF). Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs (Israel Council on Foreign Relations) 6 (2): 22.
  6. http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/118310-674-of-iranian-youths-use-internet-survey
  7. "Council Regulation (EU) No 264/2012 of 23 March 2012 amending Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union (Brussels, Belgium: European Union). 23 March 2012.
  8. Trujillo, Mario (7 February 2014). "US temporarily lifts sanctions on Iranian state broadcaster". The Hill. Retrieved 14 August 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 35°47′4.22″N 51°24′43.78″E / 35.7845056°N 51.4121611°E