Iran Launches English-Language Satellite TV Channel

TEHRAN, July 3: Iran has launched Press TV, a 24-hour
English-language satellite television channel to rival international news
networks like CNN and BBC World.

The state-owned channel will be based in Tehran, according
to Reuters, with offices in Washington, London, Paris, Moscow, Beirut, Damascus
and elsewhere. Iran's state broadcaster already runs the Arabic-language
satellite channel Al-Alam and the Persian-language Jaam-e Jam.

"What we wanted to do by setting up Press TV was to
give a medium through which the balance of reportage could be redressed,"
said Shahab Mossavat, a spokesman for the channel who will also host the show Middle
East Today once a week.

Mossavat also said the channel wanted to reach English
speakers all over the world and draw in those who were dissatisfied with news
coverage now available, adding that “there is a lot of sloppy journalism out
there” and that some other channels did not "always cover every angle.”
Mossavat also noted that Press TV would include criticism of Iranian policies
and politics but would give Iranian officials "the right to redress and
try to balance the story."