BBC Persian: "careful about not becoming opposition TV" (updated).

"Thousands of miles from Iran, BBC Persian television in London has become a focal point for Iranians who refuse to believe the results of the presidential election this month. The BBC could not have known, when it launched the channel six months ago, that it would come into existence just in time for an election which has sparked the most serious unrest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The Farsi-language channel has quickly attracted millions of viewers, despite being banned from having a single correspondent in Iran." AFP, 23 June 2009.
     "Though audience estimates are yet to be published, [BBC Persian TV] – which had set a target of eight million viewers by 2011 – is already reported to have millions of viewers. It has increased broadcasting from the previous daily limit of eight hours, and streams BBC Persian radio when off air. Up to 10,000 emails have been received on a single day, and there were some three million hits on BBCPersian.com website on Saturday, the day of protests when at least 10 people died." The Telegraph, 23 June 2009.
     "The Iranian religious leadership has been ... angered by the superb role played by the BBC's Persian service in broadcasting images of the violence on the streets back to people in Iran who would not otherwise have seen them." Editorial, The Telegraph, 23 June 2009.
     "Many Iranians are still convinced the BBC helped topple the Peacock throne and bring Ayatollah Khomeini to power, ironic in the light of the role being played by the BBC's new Persian TV channel, a huge irritant to the authorities in Tehran." The Guardian, 23 June 2009.
     "Iran accuses Britain of launching a Persian-language version of BBC programming aimed at an Iranian audience before the election to sow discontent and undermine Iran's stability." Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2009.
     "The BBC is funded by a government grant and a levy on U.K. television owners. It operates independent of the government." Bloomberg, 23 June 2009.
     "Two people accused of helping the main agents of recent unrest in Tehran, confessed to being affected by foreign media. 'We and the people involved in the recent unrest harmed public property, people and security forces, broke glasses of homes and made riot,' said Ozrasadat M.S., accused of rioting in Tehran. 'On Tuesday (last week) that there was a demonstration in Azadi square, many people told others about the place of next gathering and then we heard about the place of next riot in the Voice of America (VOA) and BBC Persian,' she added. ... 'I was affected by a false atmosphere created by foreign media which made problem for my family,' said Mohsen, also accused of rioting in Tehran. 'Through my friends and satellite channels, mainly BBC, I was informed about gatherings. This channel started to agitate people after the elections and told them what to do on the streets through "Nobate Shoma" program,' he added." Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting via ISRIA, 23 June 2009.
     "Contrary to the Iranian government's escalating accusations against foreign media, BBC Persian acting head Rob Beynon says the channel has reported the story impartially. Staff have risen to the challenge as they concentrate on a big, complex story, putting their opinions, and concerns, aside, he says. 'We have been very careful about not falling into the trap of becoming opposition TV. We've at no point said "these elections were rigged". We've been very measured - so much so that we've had criticism from all sides.'" BBC News, 23 June 2009.
     "The majority of people contacting BBC Persian and BBC News are opposition supporters - so we would like to hear from those supporting the government." BBC News, 23 June 2009.
     Update: The BBC's "Persian TV channel has been on air only since January. It has no offices in Iran but satellite technology has ensured that its broadcasters like Sadegh Saba have become famous there. Saba realized that when he visited Tehran a few weeks before the election: 'For the first time I realized that everybody recognizes me and that told me a lot. The people recognized me because they watch Persian television.' ... Saba is aware of the attacks on the channel's credibility. He calls it a crucial test for the journalists: 'We have to come out of this test victorious as before to show that under pressure when such great upheaval is happening in Iran its staff remain measured, neutral, impartial.'" Laura Lynch, The World, Public Radio International, 24 June 2009.
     "'It's been truly exhausting,' admits Pooneh Ghoddoosi, the glamorous but visibly drained 37-year-old presenter of Nowbat-e Shoma (Your Turn), which encourages Farsi speakers to phone in and discuss the issues affecting them. 'We've all been doing 18-hour days to keep up.' Usually Nowbat-e Shoma broadcasts once a week but with so many Iranians desperate to tell the outside world what is happening, producers have been scrambling to make the show a daily occurrence. It is now the station's most popular programme by far. ... Rob Beynon, the station's head of programming, insists coverage has remained scrupulously impartial. 'Although much of the videos we receive are brilliant, vivid and raw images, we have to be careful how they are used. We're not YouTube. We are the BBC and have to remain entirely impartial and objective.' Most videos and images are only broadcast if the network can corroborate them with separate footage or testimony and the channel's output is strictly governed by the BBC's standard editorial guidelines." Jerome Taylor, The Independent, 25 June 2009.
     Mehdi Semati, associate professor at Eastern Illinois University: "BBC Persian TV, which started its operation only a few months ago, has become a major source of information in Iran. VoA has been eclipsed by BBC Persian TV because they do not appear to audiences as partisan as VoA. BBC enjoys a more established brand recognition. The election and the subsequent protests have been a rating bonanza for these channels, especially for BBC Persian TV. There are numerous foreign-language channels (BBC, CNN, and Bloomberg channels are among these channels). Language barriers mean only the elite can enjoy the foreign-language channels. Internet, online news sources, and weblogs are limited to a younger and more tech-savvy audience. The reformist press has been all but paralyzed in the present context. State's draconian measures have left little room for a serious oppositional press. IRIB's selective coverage has meant audiences go elsewhere to get their information." Interviewed by Jonathan Berr, Daily Finance, 25 June 2009.
     Michael Williams, a professor at the University of London "said the Obama administration has been very careful not to fuel the volatile situation, while the British have drawn verbal fire because of the BBC's prominent role as trusted broadcaster inside Iran. 'The BBC Persian Service is very popular and respected in Iran, and the BBC is working actively to increase its satellite coverage and foil Iranian attempts to block their signal, this has made the Iranian government very suspicious,' he said." Agencies via Taiwan News, 25 June 2009.
     "The recent provocative programs broadcast by BBC’s Persian service were among Britain’s attempts to foment protests in Iran, [intelligence minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei] pointed out." Tehran Times, 25 June 2009. Posted: 26 Jun 2009 Permalink Print