New Iranian Oppositional TV Channel: Raha TV
Iran media is divided to different sides for political reasons just like the Iranian society in these days. Several TV channels have started to oppose to the leadership of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and to the strict limitations of his regime.
Eventually, Iranian activists in London have launched a new satellite TV channel that aims to change the regime in Tehran, which stands in the way of the freedom of media. It also aims to platform for opposition to Iran’s current leadership. Iranian opposition businessman Amir Hossein Jahanshah, who is the founder of opposition movement Green Wave, funds Raha TV.
Jahanshah’s challenge to regime can be seen from his own words: ”Iran regime started to become obsolete. It follows a policy that carries the zone to the war and for a change, we want to reach to Iranian society that will bring the democracy.” The channel started broadcasting from London on the 25th of October and it employs forty people.
At first, Raha TV will be on air for 3 and half hours a day, with 30 minutes news show and 3 hours of culture block. However, Iran government has banned this channel in Iran, like the Press TV. In England, Raha becomes the first independent channel that belongs to Iranian society. In Persian Raha means “to free”, which is also one of the main purposes of the channel. Raha TV started just over a week after 19 states run Iranian TV and radio stations were banned in Europe. However, the founder Jahanshah says that if they also ban Raha Tv, he will open it in another country, the place is not important for him.
Jahanshah has the connections, network and money to do this; he says nothing can stop him until he reaches his ultimate goal; changing the regime in Iran.