A new Iranian TV channel aims to reach an audience of millions in Latin America, the US and Europe – in Spanish.
Called HispanTV, the new 24-hour service is financed by the Iranian Government, and broadcasts news and documentaries, as well as broadcast television drama and films, from Tehran. Is also has an officce in Madrid with a staff of three, with several Spanish and Latin American journalists working at its base in Tehran, and correspondents located around the world.
‘They are not going to spread religious news, just entertainment and news,’ says Lola Garcia, the publicist for the channel in Spain.
Headlines on HispanTV’s website – which has been running for a year ahead of the launch, covered a range of world stories including alleged US spying in Iran, the IMF and the economic crisis, and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. Trailers for forthcoming documentaries on the channel included subjects such as the condition of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
‘HispanTV is born with a great social vocation, aiming principally to build bridges of understanding between the people of Iran, Latin America and the Middle East by broadcasting content often ignored by other media,’ the channel says.
