Ofcom revokes Iranian state broadcaster's UK licence

Ofcom has revoked the UK licence of Iranian state broadcaster Press TV after deciding that the London-based license holder did not have proper control over its editorial output.

Press TV, part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting service, has been involved in a series of disputes with Ofcom, most recently incurring a £100,000 fine in December for broadcasting an interview with a Newsweek journalist deemed to have been conducted under duress.

Ofcom had previously warned Press TV in October that it was minded to take the channel off air, citing concerns over control of its programming.

The regulator's licensing rules state that the licence holder – in this case London-based Press TV Ltd. – must also be the person in substantial control of the editorial output of the channel.

But an Ofcom spokesman said at the time that the body believed Press TV Ltd. was being effectively controlled by Tehran-based parent company Press TV International.

A statement issued by Ofcom this afternoon confirmed that the channel's licence had been revoked today for the same reason: "Through the course of 2011, Ofcom was engaged in a sanctions case with Press TV regarding an interview obtained under duress from the Newsweek and Channel 4 journalist Maziar Bahari while in an Iranian prison which Ofcom had held to be a serious breach of the Broadcasting Code. This resulted in the imposition of a £100,000 fine on Press TV Ltd.

"During the course of the sanctions hearing the licensee (Press TV Ltd. based in London) made representations that suggested to Ofcom that editorial control of the channel rested with Press TV International (based in Tehran).

"Broadcasting rules require that a licence is held by the person who is in general control of the TV service: that is, the person that chooses the programmes to be shown in the service and organises the programme schedule.

"Ofcom gave Press TV Ltd. the opportunity to apply to have its operations in Tehran correctly licensed by Ofcom and Ofcom offered to assist it to do so. Press TV Ltd. was given the opportunity to make representations on Ofcom’s 'minded to revoke' letter.

"Press TV Ltd. has failed to make the necessary application and Ofcom has therefore revoked Press TV’s licence to broadcast in the UK."

The regulator has said it expects the channel to be removed from Sky's scheduling by the end of today. It is a criminal act to broadcast without a licence.

It also announced that it is pursuing Press TV over the £100,000 fine issued in December, which the Iranian broadcaster has indicated it is not able to pay.

Responding to Ofcom's decision, Press TV chief executive Dr. Mohammad Sarafraz accused the regulator of being part of a "government campaign against" the Iranian channel and called the decision "a desperate measure".

Previously the channel dismissed the license problem raised by Ofcom as nothing more than as "administrative error".

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