The Satellite Subversives

SomeoneYouDontKnow writes: "The New York Times (free registration reguired, blah blah blah) has a fascinating article about a former Iranian rock star who has launched a pirate TV station broadcasting back into Iran from, of all places, L.A. From reading the article, I can't help but compare Narional Iranian Television to U-62 from the movie "UHF" because of its ultra-low-budget operations and programming, but, like the fictional station, it's wildly popular. OK, I know this is a little off the beaten track for Slashdot articles, but it's nice to see that there's a broadcaster out there more interested in providing a meaningful service than figuring out ways to squeeze more and more money out of viewers."

Comments

Squeezing money out of viewers?

[pbryan]

OK, I know this is a little off the beaten track for Slashdot articles, but it's nice to see that there's a broadcaster out there more interested in providing a meaningful service than figuring out ways to squeeze more and more money out of viewers.

What broadcasts are you watching? So far, all of the broadcasts I happen to view are FREE OF CHARGE. I stick up an arial, and view. Thus the name broadcast. If I want better quality reception or quantity of broadcasts, I can pay a third party (cable company) to put a pipe right up to my home.

Capitalism dictates broadcasters need to make money for the service they provide. Today, they are "figuring out ways to squeeze more and more money out of" ADVERTISERS. PVRs might change all this, of course. In five years from now, perhaps your point will be applicable.

No shit, the CIA is probably behind this

[Scareduck]

In my estimation, there's a high likelihood this guy's got the CIA behind him. The Los Angeles Times has reported that the CIA has been using LA's expat Iranian community for intelligence-gathering, as well as satellite broadcasting into Iran.