New York Times, 6 Feb 2013, Rick Gladstone: "The United States blacklisted Iran’s state broadcasting authority, Internet-policing agencies and a major electronics producer on Wednesday, an action that widened the American sanctions effort to pressure the Iranian government over not only its disputed nuclear program but also over the stifling of domestic dissent and access to information. ... The new sanctions targeted Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, which is responsible for broadcast policy in Iran and oversees production at Iranian television and radio channels. Its director, Ezzatollah Zarghami, was included in the action. Also targeted were the Iranian Cyber Police, which the Treasury Department described as an authority created three years ago to filter Web sites, monitor Internet behavior and hack into e-mail accounts of Iranians deemed to be subversive; and the Communications Regulatory Authority, which the Treasury Department described as an enforcer of Internet filtering and the blocking of Web sites deemed objectionable by the Iranian government. In addition, the Treasury targeted Iran Electronics Industries, a producer of electronic systems and products, which the Treasury said was responsible for 'goods and services related to jamming, monitoring and eavesdropping.'"

US Department of the Treasury press release, 6 Feb 2013: "According to human rights groups, Iran is using state-media transmissions to trample dissent. They point to distorted or false IRIB news reports and the broadcasting of forced confessions of political detainees, such as one involving Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari, who was forced to give a false confession in front of state media outlets while jailed in 2009. In March 2012, the European Union placed individual sanctions on Zarghami for authorizing, as head of IRIB, the broadcast in August 2009 and December 2011 of forced confessions of detainees and 'show trials' that constituted a clear violation of international provisions on fair trial and the right to due process. Additionally, Iran is engaged in a campaign to filter out unwanted TV content and broadcast its own propaganda. After the 2009 presidential election in Iran, jamming of foreign channels, particularly the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA), increased in intensity. Then, in the wake of the Arab Spring movements, Iran increased its jamming of the BBC, VOA, and other Western networks with Persian-language news channels. The move was intended to prevent Iranian audiences from seeing foreign broadcasts that the Iranian government found objectionable. Zarghami has admitted using such tactics, according to Iranian state media reports."

Reuters, 11 Feb 2013: "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. Press TV had broadcast in North America on the Galaxy 19 satellite platform. The channel did not say when it was dropped."

Press TV, 9 Feb 2013: "Press TV has announced a new frequency for viewers in the United States and Canada after the Iranian channel was removed from the Galaxy 19 satellite platform. ... In order to watch Press TV in the US and Canada, viewers can use the following frequency on Galaxy 19: Frequency 12028 MHz. Polarization H (horizontal polarization). Symbol rate 21991Msym. FEC 3/4."

Pravda, 5 Feb 2013: "Iran's ambassador in Madrid, Morteza Saffari, rejected the attitude of the Spanish authorities to prohibit the transmission of the channels Hispan TV and Iranian Press TV. He also warned about avoiding the worsening of bilateral relations between the two countries. The Iranian government presented a formal complaint against Spain before the Court of the European Union, following the suspension of the transmission of channels Hispan TV and Iranian Press TV within Spanish territory."

Press TV, 30 Jan 2013: "First anniversary of Iran’s Hispan TV. On January 31, 2012 The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) inaugurated the Spanish-language international HD channel, Hispan TV, which broadcasts round-the-clock news, entertainment, and educational programs."