Iranian Conservative Says One State TV Channel Should Be Given To Critics

Iranian conservative politician Mohammad Mohajeri proposes dedicating one TV channel for domestic critics of the system.

In his Telegram channel, Mohajeri wrote: "The fact that programs, for instance, the most-watched ones on the state TV, do not even have 10-15% viewership, demonstrates that this organization becomes more of a failure each day."

He proposed the solution to rescue the state TV from its current state, suggesting that if Islamic Republic of Iran’s Broadcasting (IRIB) were to allocate just one channel out of its 30-40 television channels to loyal critics of the system and the government, all its problems would be resolved.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Netherlands-based Gamaan Institute, the majority of Iranians prefer to get their news from foreign-based media outlets, with Iran International being their favored choice.

The survey, which gathered input from 38,445 individuals within Iran, indicates that only approximately 21 percent of respondents follow developments in Iran through the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), with an annual budget will over $600 million.

Critics argue that IRIB, under tight control by Iran's authoritarian ruler Ali Khamenei, has been losing its audience due to heavy religious content, extensive censorship, and biased programming. Many view it as a propaganda tool benefiting from a substantial government subsidy, estimated at a minimum of $600 million, and lacking accountability, in addition to commercial income. It employs around 40,000 people.