Press TV broke the news headlining, "Ofcom revokes Press TV's UK
license," saying:
In a questionable move and without offering a valid response to the
Press TV CEO's letters, the British Office of Communications
(Ofcom)" pulled the plug disgracefully.
After threatening it for months, it "removed the channel from the
Sky platform."
Britain's decision came at its highest levels. Likely Prime Minister
David Cameron was involved. Suppressing truth burnished Britain's
credentials as a reliable axis of evil partner, together with
America and Israel. Expect much worse ahead from all three.
Revoking Press TV's license was clear irresponsible censorship.
Doing so suppressed truth. UK television viewers were deprived of
real news, information, commentary and analysis.
Fortunately, they have options. They can still follow Press TV
online, through below listed web sites, or by satellite as follows:
Hot Bird 8 (13E)
12437
27500
3/4
H
Eurobird 1 (28.5E)
11222
27500
2/3
H
SES ASTRA (19/2E)
12460.50
27500
3/4
H
The following web sites also carry it worldwide:
Zattoo (Internet platform and IPTV. Supports PC, MAC, Linux and all
tablet PCs and smartphones) (UK)
OHTV Box (Internet Set-top box) (Worldwide)
Roku Box (Internet Set-top box) (Worldwide) (Available in UK from
January 2012)
Livestation (Internet platform. Supports PC MAC, Linux and all
tablet PCs and smartphones)
In addition, they can use Press TV's web site:
presstv.ir
Available 24-hours a day, it's a simple click-and-use way to follow
Press TV regularly.
At issue is its even-handed coverage, real news and information,
anti-imperial Middle East reporting, and accurate accounts about
"British police crackdowns on anti-austerity protesters in London
and other cities."
In addition, Ofcom is close to Britain's royal family. WikiLeaks
cables disclosed its anger over Press TV's coverage of Prince
William/Kate Middleton's wedding extravaganza.
Indeed so. Estimates ranged from $5 - $50 billion because a national
holiday shut down Britain's economy. Activity ground to a halt.
Workers lost pay, and security costs were huge. Thousands of police
(perhaps on overtime) and other measures were employed.
Last April, this writer discussed it on Press TV, saying:
With Britain's economy weak and declining, the spectacle was
"shocking and disgusting." It was "an extravagant waste of money"
while "popular needs go begging."
Contemptuous of people needs, "rich folks cavort with unlimited
amounts of money. It's the same in America as Britain."
In January, Press TV CEO Mohammad Sarafraz wrote Ofcom. He
questioned its independence because Britain's Secretary of State has
hiring and firing authority over its chairman and staff.
Ofcom's also beholden to "loans and Grant-in-Aid from the British
Government."
In addition, he raised a "glaring contradiction," saying:
"Ofcom wants to revoke" Press TV's license because it determined
that it "does not have control over the broadcast. Yet at the same
time, Ofcom" fines Press TV for something it "says it has no control
over!"
Ofcom's action is a "futile....attempt to conceal the truth from the
people of Britain, and those that want to hear our alternative voice
will find a way despite your efforts."
Viewers React
Comments Press TV received included the following:
"Nimco: What do we expect. Sky TV is owned by Rupert Murdoch, a
known Zionist and Islamophobe. But the truth is stronger than hate.
Press TV will prevail in the end."
Samy: This is a joke. Other channels have done worse things than
what they say about Press TV, and they have not had their license
revoked. I will cancel my Sky account. I wish more people will do
that. Where is their freedom of speech then???
James: Britain could not compete with Press TV and so took it down.
Sharon: Press TV has done a brilliant job showing this Royal
Family's true colors....Ofcom is obeying their freemason masters and
doing what they are told.
Ryan: Today is a sad day for us Brits as Press TV was wrongly taken
off the air....However, this is not going to stop me watching
online.
British-Pakistani: Ofcom can't silence the truth.
Seektruth: My Sky subscription is now cancelled.
BritishIdiots: This is how (UK) democracy works (by) bombing
children and women.
yenda rasta: This action (is) how communist regimes behind the iron
curtain" operated. It's the same in Britain.
Hassan: One of the best sources of information in UK is Press TV.
Shame on UK.
Citizen of the World-UK: This is a black day for freedom of
speech....There is NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH in this country....I
cancelled my Sky account after their reporting on Gaza....Thank you
Press TV."
For reporting accurately on major issues, Press TV deserves praise.
Why else would Britain ban it?
Northern Ireland political analyst Saeb Shaath called doing so "a
gross reminder of the Spanish inquisition" to silence free speech
and truth. That's what "scared them."
It's "an international and imperialist war against the freedom of
expression, and all that is coming to deny Iran the ability of
expressing really what is happening in Iran and the motives behind
imperialist forces (to) attack a country (that) never for the last
three hundred years attacked anyone" except in self-defense "against
aggressors."
Major Media Reaction
True to form, US major media scoundrels marched in lockstep with
Ofcom. New York Times writer Ravi Somaiya headlined, "Britain
Revokes Iranian TV Network's License," saying:
"Britain's media regulator revoked" Press TV's license, "saying the
network had failed to address concerns over its editorial
independence and had not paid a fine."
The Washington Post ran an AP article headlined, "British regulator
revokes license of Iran's English-language Press TV," saying:
"Ofcom said it was not convinced the station, an arm of the Islamic
Republic of Iran Broadcasting, had control over the programs it
aired....Press TV called the decision 'a clear instance of
censorship.' "
Wall Street Journal writers Paul Sonne and Farnaz Fassihi headlined,
"Tehran's TV Channel Loses British License," saying:
"....Ofcom realized editorial control of Press TV rested with the
broadcaster's headquarters in Tehran, rather than with its
operations in London."
CNN headlined, "UK revokes Iranian network's license," regurgitating
comments like above.
MSNBC ran a Reuters article doing the same thing. So did Murdoch's
Fox News, adding: "It is a crime in Britain to broadcast without a
license." It's true as well for truth and full disclosure reporting.
They're also suppressed in America, especially on Fox.
For years, America's major media scoundrels waged war on Iran.
Supportively, they back Washington's regime change plans. They also
misreport, distort, and cheerlead all US imperial wars.
London Guardian writer Mark Sweney headlined, "Iran's Press TV loses
UK license," saying:
"....Ofcom revoked its license for breaching the Communications Act.
(It) found that Press TV's practice of running its editorial
oversight from Tehran....is in breach of broadcasting license rules
in the UK."
"Hadi Ghaemi, director of the International Campaign for Human
Rights in Iran, welcomed Ofcom's decision. 'It's about time for the
Iranian government to pay a price for its reliance on broadcasts to
commit and promote egregious human-rights crimes.' "
Britain's state owned BBC regurgitated Ofcom's fabrication about
"breach(ing) several broadcasting license rules over editorial
control of the channel." Why not? They were told what to report and
did so.
In contrast, Russia Today quoted Press TV calling Ofcom's revocation
"a clear act of censorship." UK media analyst Phil Rees said it was
geopolitically motivated, saying:
"Press TV has been viewed through geopolitical terms - and there is
a breakdown of relations between Britain and Iran. Press TV's
journalism is not viewed (as) journalism, but....in terms of
British-Iranian relations."
"Most of the criticisms of Press TV have been due to its coverage,
because it sees the Middle East very differently than the mainstream
media in Britain."
He called taking it off air a "tragedy."
Journalist/Press TV host Yvonne Ridley was quoted saying "the
so-called 'free democracies' don't like the truth, and they will go
to extraordinary levels of censorship to stop what they see as
criticism of the way they run their governments."
Truth and full disclosure got Press TV's license pulled, not
breaching UK law. Moreover, British government owned, funded and
controlled BBC operates out London. By Ofcom's reasoning, perhaps
its license should be revoked. Former viewers and listeners wanting
real news and information would applaud.
In July 2009, the Guardian published Press TV's Roshan Muhammed
Salih op-ed headlined, "Press TV speaks for itself," saying:
Britain's media calls Press TV Iran's "mouthpiece. (It's)
hypocritical in the extreme, as exemplified by a sneering (BBC)
Newsnight report, several offensive articles by rightwing
commentators, and most recently a misleading post by Seth Freedman
on Comment is free."
Spurious accusations include being "Iran's mouthpiece, (a) Holocaust
denier, (and) fail(ing) to cover (Iran's 2009) elections fairly."
"All you need to do is watch the channel to realize that Press TV
gives a platform to a wide diversity of views - pro-Israel and
anti-Iranian government among them." It does the same for Hamas,
Hezbollah and other voices excluded from major media spaces.
Former UK MP/Press TV host George Galloway said:
Ofcom's decision is "not about media regulation. All sorts of
foreign TV channels are modeled along the same lines as Press TV."
In addition, many "obscene sex channels operate under Ofcom's nose,
and they're free to do so. Our crime at Press TV is not only that we
are telling the truth that most other broadcasters deliberately
conceal, but we were becoming more and more popular."
Britain's hypocritical stance on free speech belies its actions.
"We're actually told here in Britain that we go to war to bring such
freedoms to them."
Ofcom officials are "highly paid servants of the British state.
They're not independent as this action makes clear." In fact,
WikiLeaks cables revealed that UK and US officials "discussed how to
put Press TV off the air." The London Times "quoted a highly placed
Foreign Office official saying efforts were being made to take Press
TV off the air."
"This was long before any questions" Ofcom raised in its complaints.
"They were out to get us because we were achieving more and more a
greater share of the audience."
Viewers follow Press TV because "it's a voice for the voiceless. God
willing, it will continue to be."
"If you were drawing up a list of Press TV 'crimes,' " how it covers
Israel/Palestine "is right up at the top." For years, "Ofcom
harassed Press TV on (this) issue...."
Truth is widely suppressed in UK media. "The cat's chorus of
conformity....is already becoming infamous around the world,"
including on BBC. More recently, it became "the Bush and Blair"
operation, "and hasn't recovered. It's absolutely craven in front of
power." Of course, Britain "controls their purse" and with it their
content. The "same goes for Ofcom."
A Final Comment
Press TV interviews this writer often. It provides a platform to
speak openly and freely on many topics. Other independent writers,
authors, academics and analysts also appear regularly. BBC and
America's major media exclude them.
WikiLeaks cables revealed that Britain's Foreign Office told
Washington's London embassy that it was exploring ways to ban Press
TV.
It provides real news, information, commentary and analysis. Airing
24 hours a day in English in most parts of the world, viewers can
follow it by satellite, cable or online. Its US presence is limited
through intermediary companies.
Major cable operators Comcast and Time Warner banned it. So did
media conglomerates Disney, Viacom and Fox.
Controlled and funded by Britain's government, BBC's an imperial
tool. Throughout its history, it's suppressed information,
commentaries and analysis critical of its policies.
America's major media long ago abandoned truth, including on
state-controlled National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting. It's
true as well in Britain, especially on government-run BBC.
In contrast, Press TV, Russia Today and Voice of Russia air diverse
discussions and opinions on major global issues.
UK and US viewers can access all three online. Do so daily for real
information and analysis to stay current and well informed - free
from Western propaganda.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network
Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon.
All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/. |