³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s award-winning Persian-language television channel, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian, is now available on Eurobird 2 which is positioned in the same location as Arabsat.

This is the latest in a series of recent moves to ensure that ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian television is available to audiences in Iran despite attempts to jam the channel's signal.

In May 2010, as part of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s commitment to ensure that its Iranian audiences have access to accurate and impartial television news and current affairs, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian television started broadcasting on the Hotbird 8 satellite. The channel continues to be available on Eutelsat W3A and Telstar 12. The EB2 satellite (co-located with Arabsat) is the third Eutelsat owned platform to carry the Persian service.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian television started suffering deliberate attempts to interfere with its signal during its extended coverage of Iran's disputed presidential election in June 2009. The source of the interference has been identified as being situated in Iran.

Peter Horrocks, Director of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Global News, has reaffirmed the broadcaster's commitment to its Persian-speaking audiences saying: "We have been working closely with Eutelsat and other satellite operators to find alternative and more robust avenues to give our large audiences in Iran access to our Persian-language content. Our audiences in Iran value the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ as a high quality source of impartial and editorially independent news and information and we will do everything we can to give them that news."

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian television is now available on the following platforms:

Hotbird 8, (transponder 77)
13 East
12.245 Horizontal

Eutelsat W3A (transponder A1)
7º East
10.721 GHz – (Horizontal)

Telstar 12, (transponder 10)
15 West
12.608 GHz (Horizontal)

EuroBird2 – EB2 (transponder 158) [co-located with Arabsat]
25.5º East
11.662GHz Vertical

Notes to Editors

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian is the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s integrated news and information service for Persian-speakers. It is available on air and on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is designed to reach audiences on radio, television, the internet – on bbcpersian.com – mobile phones and handheld computers in whatever way best suits the audience. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian is one of the oldest of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s non-English language services. Launched on 28 December 1940, it has evolved into the Persian-speaking world's leading international broadcaster, covering the political, social and cultural issues that matter to its diverse audiences in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and across the world. With its new TV presence, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian is bringing the world to Persian-speaking audiences – reporting the news wherever it leads. The latest news from ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Persian is now available on mobile phones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Publicity