The Iranian parliament is considering a new media outlet in response toU.S. efforts toward Iran. Iran's new media apparatus may be placed inthe hands of the hardline Revolutionary Guard, strengthening thatalready powerful body.

Iran's Press TV logo
According to state-run Press TV, a three-member parliamentary committee has beenset up to work out the details.

The original bill allocated $20million for that purpose, but legislators decided to raise the amountto $50 million after hearing the U.S. Congress voted to set aside $50million for broadcasting to Iran.

Many Western media analystscomplain Iran's overseas broadcasting operations are biased. TheBritish government media watchdog OFCOM is currently investigatingPress TV, which is based in London, over complaints of "breachingaccuracy and impartiality guidelines."

Press TV frequentlycriticizes the U.S. and British governments in its new bulletins andits criticism of Israel is invariably scathing. It also often totallyignores student protests and opposition demonstrations in Iran.

Topics of discussion on Press TV are also frequently absurd.  A Press TV announcer recently suggested the United States could be in the throes of a secessionist movement, claiming that Texas and Vermont want to secede from the Union.

Iran's Arabic-language network, which isaimed at a mostly Middle Eastern audience, also ignores internal dissentand criticizes Arab governments along with the United States andBritain.

In a recent broadcast, al-Alam TV alleged, without anyindependent evidence, there had been a coup attempt in Saudi Arabia andthat Prince Bandar, the son of Crown Prince Sultan, was under arrest.

TwoArab satellite broadcasting corporations, Nilesat and Arabsat, recentlyrefused to allow al-Alam to continue broadcasting on their frequencies,provoking protestations from Tehran. A French satellite companyeventually allowed al-Alam to resume broadcasting on its frequencies.

AliNourizadeh of the London-based Center for Arab and Iranian Studies saysIran thinks that by spending $50 million it can rival Westernbroadcasters, but he doubts it will succeed:

"TheIranians know the effect of international media, especially thoseFarsi-speaking media like Voice of America and the BBC. They have alot of effect because they report almost by the minute what ishappening in Iran. On the other hand, the Iranian media whichbroadcast to the West like Press TV and Al Alam have certain limits andall sorts of red lines. Therefore, they are looking to have morecompatible media to challenge those stations, which broadcast to Iran,and I do not think they are going to succeed, because of the limit theyhave in order to talk about issues we talk about. They cannot talkabout the other side. Always, the other side in Iran is pictured asthe agent of the West and of the United States. Mr. Mousavi, forinstance, would not have a chance to come to Press TV and talk. Onlycertain people can use this window, only certain people can beinterviewed," Nourizadeh said.

During a media conferencein Tehran over the weekend, the head of Iranian state TV (IRIB)Ezzetollah Darghami said Iran must "work to combat Western propaganda."

Iranianopposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who have notspoken on Press TV since a controversial presidential election in June,both complain that IRIB is unfair and biased in its coverage.

Muchof Iran's media, including newspapers, magazines, press agencies, radiostations, Web sites and some TV programs are under the control ofIran's Revolutionary Guards, says Ali Nourizadeh. He also thinks thatit will probably run Iran's new media arm, dubbed Atlas, as well.