Iran's Minister of Culture: The Law Prohibiting Film Advertising on Satellite Must Be Amended

The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran has called for the amendment of the law prohibiting the broadcast of movie trailers on satellite networks, stating that at least 70% of the people in Iran have satellite dishes. Ali Jannati made these remarks on Tuesday, July 13, in an interview with the official website of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (House of the Nation). He stated that the law prohibiting the broadcast of movie trailers on satellite networks "must definitely be amended." The Minister added that "satellite can be used to promote cultural goods, but this issue can only be realized if the use of satellites is legally permitted." Jannati explained the necessity of amending this prohibition by saying, "As long as the law prohibiting satellite use exists, its subsidiary laws will also be enforced." He further noted that currently, the use of satellites by individuals is "completely illegal, but the majority of people use it. In fact, at least 70% of the people are acting against the law." According to the Minister of Culture, as long as there are "devastating limitations" on the broadcast of movie trailers within the country, it is "natural" for filmmakers to seek to promote their films through satellites. He called for the conditions to be created for promoting films within the country, especially through the state broadcaster, and for this organization to cooperate in this regard. The Minister's statements come after Hossein Nooshabadi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Culture, previously declared any cooperation with "hostile" satellite networks in the form of interviews, ad orders, promotional trailers, news delivery, or participation in program production as "violations." Nooshabadi stated that sometimes artists are warned through reminders, summons, or messages regarding this matter. He added, "If this cooperation is done with their knowledge and consent, they will definitely be reprimanded, and their future permits may face problems." The public relations office of the Cinema Organization announced on May 18 of this year that a directive had been sent to all film production and distribution offices prohibiting the broadcast of movie trailers on unauthorized satellite networks. Part of this directive stated that since "the use of satellites is still prohibited, the display of any Iranian film, trailer, and announcement of Iranian films through unauthorized Persian-language satellite networks is legally prohibited." This directive was issued to film and distribution offices at a time when several filmmakers, criticizing what they called the "selective policy" of the state broadcaster in not airing their trailers, had turned to broadcasting their trailers on satellites.