BBC to launch satellite TV for Iran

London: The British Broadcasting Corp announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch a Farsi-language cable and satellite channel for Iran.

The BBC said the London-based television service would begin broadcasting for eight-hours a day in early 2008 and would be available to anyone with a satellite dish or cable connection in the region.

The channel will be run by the BBC's international broadcasting arm, the World Service. Treasury Chief Gordon Brown said the government would supply the $28 million annual operating cost.

"The BBC's proposed Farsi TV channel is an editorially independent specialist TV service for the people of Iran. And I am pleased to announce that we are making available the resources for this today," Brown said.

The BBC said, the channel would broadcast "accurate, impartial, balanced news and analysis from a global perspective" as well as current affairs programmes and documentaries.

The broadcaster said the channel would complement its Farsi-language short-wave radio service and the bbcpersian.com Web site. In January, the BBC accused Iranian authorities of blocking access to the site.

"In Iran we are regarded as the most trusted and objective of all international broadcasters for the way we provide impartial news and information about the wider world and the crucial part Iran is playing on the regional and global stage," said BBC World Service Director Nigel Chapman.

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