The Satellite Subversives

Iranians may watch now TV station that bypasses government-controlled media regulations. Farsi-speakers living outside Iran, especially those living in the US and Western Europe, could not tune in to a Farsi-only channel until the Iranian-American Zia Atabay established one in 2000. The voices of artists and intellectuals living in exile are now heard all over the world, especially in Iran. The son of Iran’s former shah, among other prominent figures, have guest-starred in an American-based satellite TV program over which the Iranian government has no control. Much controversy has ensued since the station’s content evolved from entertainment to more politicized programming. Today’s technological interconnectedness makes the transmission of information (whatever the content) possible, hopefully contributing to the spread of political and social freedoms. – YaleGlobal