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Iran says English-language TV channel dropped in North America

A view of the Press TV's Newsroom in Tehran, January 21, 2012.

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Reuters

February 09, 2013

DUBAI — Iran's English-language Press TV channel has been dropped from the satellite platform that allowed it to broadcast in the United States and Canada, the channel said.

The state-owned, 24-hour network broadcasts world news and
pro-government views beyond Iran's borders.

Iranian Entities Facing Sanctions for Censorship Links

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)

Government agency in charge of broadcasting
Produces several television and radio channels

Iranian Cyber Police

Blocks content the government finds objectionable, monitors e-mail and text messages
Arrested a blogger for reportedly posting anti-government comments

Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA)

Enforces government requirements to filter Internet content
Blocks hundreds of websites to prevent access to foreign news agencies

Iran Electronics Industries (IEI)

Produced system Iran uses to monitor text messages
Offers other services related to jamming an eavesdropping

Source: U.S. Department of Treasury

Press TV had broadcast in North America on the Galaxy 19
satellite platform. The channel did not say when it was dropped.

New sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury Department this week blacklisted the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and its director, Ezatollah Zarghami, which oversees Iran's broadcast channels.

Press TV said in a statement on Friday evening that its
being dropped from Galaxy 19 was a ``flagrant violation of freedom of speech.''

In October, the Paris-based Eutelsat, one of
Europe's leading satellite providers, cut Iranian state television and radio broadcasts to comply with tougher European Union sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The Eutelsat decision hit 19 channels provided by IRIB,
including Press TV.

Galaxy 19 is operated by Luxembourg-based Intelsat,
according to the firm's website. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The European Union stepped up sanctions on Iran's banking,
shipping, and industrial sectors on Monday over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme which the West fears is aimed at producing nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge.

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