Satellite television in Iran: Prohibition, imitation and reform

S. Barraclough*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    21 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This article is concerned with the government's response up until 1998, when the policies of President Khatami to encourage pluralism in the media had helped facilitate a tense standoff with more conservative elements within the Iranian polity. The article seeks evaluate the broader impact of satelite television on the public dimensions of the regime's political and ideological undertakings. The role of the media in the legitimation of the regime is described so that readers can better appreciate the kind of challenge that satellite broadcasting has posed. The public dispute concerning that status of satellite television is appraised as an expression of the rivalry between Iran's two main political factions. Likewise, efforts undertaken to improve Iranian television are analyzed both as a response to satellite competition, as well as an exercise in fine tuning the medium's political function within Iran itself. Ultimately, the fact that Iranian television is cast in the role of a disseminator of pro-government views and cultural motifs heightens the appeal of its international counterpart. As long as this practice endures, satellite television will continue to have an inordinately important role not only in broadcasting, but in other issues pertaining to the public life of the country.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)25-48
    Number of pages24
    JournalMiddle Eastern Studies
    Volume37
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2001

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Satellite television in Iran: Prohibition, imitation and reform'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this