Press TV loses UK licence

Press TV, the Iranian state broadcaster’s English-language channel, has had its licence revoked by UK regulator Ofcom.

Press TV was found to have been operating editorial control from Tehran, breaching UK broadcasting licence rules.

“In the course of correspondence and meetings with Ofcom, statements made by Press TV Limited about the operation of the Licensed Service failed to satisfy Ofcom that the Licensee had general control over which programmes and other services were comprised in the Licensed Service. Ofcom therefore concluded that Press TV Limited had ceased to provide the Licensed Service in accordance with section 362(2) of the Act and that, accordingly, it was appropriate to revoke TLCS Licence 1211 under Condition 29(2)(a) of that Licence and section 238(4) of the Communications Act 2003. The Licence was revoked on 20 January 2012,” Ofcom said in a statement.