EU blacks out Iranian TV in Europe

PFDC – BRUSSELS, The European Union’s most recent package of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program includes a surprising point: all Iranian state television channels are not available on sattelite in Europe any longer.

European satellite provider Eutelsat blacked out all Iranian state-run TV and radio channels on Monday, citing “reinforced EU Council sanctions” as reason.

The blocked channels include IRIB Jaam-e Jam TV, especially important for the hundred thousands Iranians and residents of Iranian ancestry as a small window to their far away home as well es especially important for the numerous football fans among them.

IRIB is vastly covering Iran’s most popular sports, showing many games of the Iranian national team, but also youth teams and domestic as well as continental club competetions – all free of charge and without commercials.

This is now history for very questionable reasons. Interestingly, the vast majority of the usual viewers are highly critical of the Iranian regime and their nuclear program anyways.

Why they are punished without any clear reasoning or obvious benfit for EU’s stance against Iran’s nuclear program remains a mystery.

While all programs are still available outside Europe, Iran has already announced legal steps against Eutelsat’s alledged compliance with the sanctions.

Iranians abroad still have the internet as exit strategy though. Several websites, including IRIB’s official homepage, offer live streaming of Iran’s TV programs.

For further information please visit http://www.irib.ir/ or http://english.irib.ir/.

For information on where to watch upcoming Iranian football matches live online please check out our discussion forums.