Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) stands as the dominant state-run media conglomerate in Iran, operating a far-reaching network of television, radio, online, and print outlets. Originally established as the National Iranian Radio and Television, the organization assumed its current identity following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. IRIB maintains an absolute monopoly over domestic broadcasting—no other television or radio broadcaster is legally permitted to operate within the country.
Domestically, IRIB runs a broad array of channels tailored to Iranian audiences, while internationally it serves as the voice of the regime through a number of language-specific outlets. Its global media arms include: Press TV, an English and French-language news and documentary channel; Al-Alam, an Arabic-language news broadcaster with a complementary digital platform, Alalam News; Sahar TV, under the Sahar Universal Network, airing in Azeri, Kurdish, Urdu, and Balkan languages; Al Kawthar, an Arabic religious and cultural channel aimed at MENA audiences; HispanTV, which targets Spanish-speaking audiences, especially in Latin America; Jam-e Jam World Network, catering to the Iranian diaspora with content tailored for Iranians abroad.
IRIB also manages a comprehensive network of domestic radio channels and operates IRIB World Service, Iran’s international broadcasting wing, delivering programming in 32 languages. In the print sector, it publishes Jam-e Jam, a major Persian-language newspaper. According to on-the-ground sources, the organization employs approximately 46,000 staff members.
Media assets
Television: National– IRIB TV: TV1, TV2, TV3, TV4, TV5, Amoozesh, Quran TV, Namayesh TV, TV Nasim, Ofogh TV, Salamat TV, Nahal TV, DocTV, Varzesh TV, Pooya TV, Tamasha TV, Omid TV, Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN); International– Press TV; Al-Alam, Sahar TV, Al Kawthar, Hispan TV, Jam Jam World, iFilm, Al-Quds TV; Regional-Abadan, East Azerbaijan, Western Azerbaijan, Ardabil. Esfahan, Alborz, Ilam, Bushehr, Southern Korasan, Khorasan Razavi, North Korasan, Persian Gulf, Khuzestan
Radio: National– Tehran Radio, Radio Recitation, Payam, Iran Radio Network, Economics Radio Network, Radio Ava, Goftu Radio Network, Quran Radio Network, Farhang Radio, Saba Radio, Health Radio, Young Radio, Sports Radio, Show Radio, Education Radio; International- Pars Today
Print: Jam-e Jam
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
IRIB functions as a fully state-owned enterprise, tightly controlled by the political establishment. In line with Article 175 of Iran’s Constitution, the head of IRIB is appointed directly by the Supreme Leader, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The organization’s nominal Supervisory Board comprises representatives from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. However, insiders and media observers consulted for this report consistently point out that real authority lies with IRIB’s head—a position often reserved for trusted allies of the Supreme Leader.
In October 2021, Payman Jebelli, a figure closely aligned with Khamenei’s inner circle and affiliated with hardline factions, was appointed director of IRIB. Jebelli’s tenure has coincided with intensified ideological messaging and further centralization of media control.
Source of funding and budget
IRIB is financed through a combination of state subsidies and advertising revenue. Officially, ad sales account for approximately 50% of its annual budget, although much of this revenue comes from other state-controlled entities. Moreover, under Iranian law, all advertising income is ultimately subject to state appropriation.
Estimates from domestic analysts and publicly available data suggest IRIB’s total annual budget hovers around US$ 1 billion. In 2022, it earned roughly US$ 560 million in advertising, again largely via state-linked firms. That same year, IRIB received US$ 200 million from the national budget—an amount comparable to the total public sector wage bill. In 2023, it received an additional US$ 158 million in government allocations.
Most notably, in 2025, the Iranian government tripled IRIB’s annual budget, allocating IRR 240 trillion (approx. US$ 480 million)—a landmark increase driven, according to observers, by pressure from the ultraconservative Paydari Party, which has gained significant influence in the Iranian parliament. This surge in funding is not linked to audience performance; in fact, IRIB’s own research reportedly shows its viewership has plummeted from 57% to 11%, as more Iranians turn to satellite TV and social media platforms for news and entertainment. Another source indicated that the budget of the IRIB in 2025 (expressed in tomans) was 35 million (which means some IRR 350 trillion or US$ 564 million) and surpassed the combined budgets of at least ten ministries.
Editorial independence
IRIB’s editorial stance is fundamentally aligned with the goals and ideological orientation of the Iranian regime. It serves as a state propaganda arm rather than an independent news organization. Internal directives guide journalists on acceptable topics and prescribed narratives, with heavy censorship of dissenting views.
Investigations conducted in 2023 and 2024 by the Media and Journalism Research Center indicate that IRIB staff routinely receive instructions on coverage tone and subject matter, and that foreign films or TV content are subject to strict editing to remove “immoral” elements, as determined by Islamic codes. An Asia Times report characterized IRIB as “infamous for its explicit censorship of critical debate,” reflecting broader public perception of the broadcaster.
While IRIB’s own charter nominally encourages it to “welcome criticism,” the broader document reinforces its primary mandate: to uphold the ideological principles of the Islamic Republic and to disseminate content that reflects the Supreme Leader’s vision and promotes the “supremacy of Islam.” The charter thus fails to guarantee editorial autonomy in any meaningful sense.
To date, no independent oversight body or external evaluation mechanism has been identified that would ensure or even assess IRIB’s editorial independence.
July 2025