IRIB: Digitalization and Regional Cooperation in International Media Regulation

1. OIC IBRAF 3rd Annual MeetingMarrakesh, Morocco19-20 December 2013

2. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)

3. IRIB, Digitalization and Necessity of Regional Cooperation through International Media Regulation

4. Presentation by M. Mousa Mirghaffari IRIB, department of Warehouse and Procurement, General Manager Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of the nation and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran I am pleased to extend my appreciations to the participating delegates and particularly the government of Morocco for organizing this session. I wish to seize this opportunity and voice the Islamic Republic of Iran’s deep satisfaction over the realization of a broadcasting institute delineating norms in the Islamic Conference region and hope that the forum by attaining its fundamental goals contribute to the materialization of the age-old wish by all member states for the sake of creating common humane and Islamic norms in radio and television broadcast and make orderly the unfavorable and unbridled current of the broadcast of radio and television waves.

5. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is the focal point for broadcasting in Iran. This focal point has been established on the basis of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the 98.2 percent vote cast by the Iranian nation in favor of the Constitution is the source of support for IRIB’s popularity and legitimacy. IRIB has 120 radio and television channels in different languages including Farsi, arabic, English, Spanish and Turkish inside and outside the country and is considered as one of the biggest broadcasters in the world.

6. it is among a few broadcasters that is welcomed by its audience and has influenced them not through violence, sex and trade. On the other hand, it is welcomed by its audience due to its morality, religion and the unshakeable family foundation. This exemplary broadcaster has created bonds amongst millions of its audiences in the region and the world via its health and family foundations and has freely disseminated information and in this way it has sought to spread Islam and sublime human values by broadcasting radio and television programs and at the same time avoiding the spread of harms and corruptions that have overshadowed modern societies spreading like a disease from one house to another without drawing any distinction among its audiences.

7. The ever-increasing number of audiences of television channels such as IFilm, Hispan TV, al-Alam TV and tens of other radio and television channels particularly among Islamic states is a proof for this claim.

8. IRIB like other major world broadcasters is involved in broadcasting and dissemination of information through various radio and television channels benefiting from modern communication methods such as digital, land, satellite, mobile, wireless, DSL (fiber and copper wire) and Wimax networks as well as internet services such as IP media, OTT (over the top) and CDN (content delivery network) inside and outside the country. It benefits from the country’s indigenous technological capacities and capabilities as well as outstanding global service providers 

9. IRIB develops its activities as a state broadcaster today by attaching special attention to three sectors: 1-   Production: IRIB operates at least twenty fully digital radio and television studios in Tehran and more than seventy similar studios in provinces and applies the most modern media equipment and is considered as a major broadcaster not only at the regional level but also at the global level. These capabilities have been boosted several folds due to the involvement of the country’s private sector. The production of content based on modern communication methods or Media Asset Management (MAM) has been realized with the aim of developing the processing of meta data and this trend is still developing;

10. 2-   Transmission: IRIB makes use of satellite and optic fibers and microwave networks for signaling from the center to provinces and vice versa as well as overseas and major steps have been taken for developing digital systems;

11. 3-   Propagation: IRIB makes use of Digital Terrestrial Propagation enjoying more than 100 high-frequency radio and television stations and 17,000 small stations known as Gap Fillers as well as satellite possibilities for developing cable networks known as IPTV and OTT with 90% digital systems.

12. The unlawful actions by certain governments in order to hamper the granting of permits for broadcast by European-related regulators and  banning the providing services by American companies through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has caused many difficulties inflicting heavy losses upon the IRIB.

13. In the meantime, more than 500 Farsi-speaking radio and television channels are broadcasting their programs in the geography of the Islamic Republic of Iran that are immoral, violent and oppose religion and peaceful coexistence as well as the rights of children and state order and they have surprisingly received permits for broadcast from competent regulators and they have plenty of leeway to broadcast whatever they want due to the absence of an effective regional regulator.

14. Nowadays, the masters of media directed by the Zionist lobby have launched a media onslaught targeting the young Muslim generation by making use of modern communication tools that prevail throughout the world including in my country even at the level of kindergartens and mobile phones and tablets are easily accessible and have the capability to receive different types of information. In such an atmosphere, the creation of a sound environment based on Islamic thoughts requires notifications in congruity with people from all walks of life in the target society.  

15. I wish to reiterate the need for countering the existing inappropriate atmosphere and direct this forum towards an effective and efficient regulator encompassing Islamic states preparing grounds for broadcast of radio and television channels using all modern communication tools and setting obligations for all senders of information.