Several Iranian TV channels removed from western satellites
Some Western satellite companies have taken a number of Iranian channels off the air, Press TV reported.
The satellite companies Hotbird 13-B, Eutelsat 25-C, Eutelsat 21-B, Eutelsat 8-West-A, Intelsat 20, Galaxy 19, and Optus D-2 pulled the plug on the Islamic Republic of Iran's English news channel Press TV on Monday.
Iran's Spanish-language channel Hispan TV was removed from satellites Eutelsat 8-West-A, Eutelsat 7-West-A, and Intelsat 21. Eutelsat 8-West-A also removed Arabic news channel al-Alam.
Iran's general entertainment television network iFilm -- which broadcasts in both English and Arabic --was also taken off the air by Eutelsat 21-B, Eutelsat 25-C, Hotbird 13-B, Eutelsat 7-West-A, Intelsat 20, and Optus D-2.
Broadcasting of another Iranian channel, called al-Kawthar, was stopped by Eutelsat 8-West-A, Eutelsat 7-West-A, and Galaxy 19.
Earlier, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) called on the United States and Intelsat to suspend their decision on taking Iranian channels off the air.
ITSO director general José Manuel Do Rosario Toscano asked both Intelsat and the US to hold talks with Iran on the issue.