Iranians will soon have more television news options. VOA’s Persian Service rolls out a dynamic new TV lineup starting Monday January 16th, with new programs that deliver the day’s vital news, examine crucial social issues in Iran, and bring the audience the views of leading newsmakers.
VOA Executive Editor Steve Redisch says the informative and entertaining program lineup will expand VOA Persian’s prime time footprint to six hours a day, from 6pm to 12 midnight Tehran time, focusing on the issues Iranians care about. “These shows build on VOA’s already successful programs offering audiences information and viewpoints that are otherwise unavailable or kept from them.” Redisch says.
Newshour will be VOA Persian’s flagship news program, airing Saturday through Wednesday at 9:00 pm, tackling the top stories with its team of journalists around the world and in-depth reports from the VOA newsroom in Washington. Anchored by a rotating cast of VOA anchors, Newshour will also give viewers a full dose of sports with host Ali Emadi.
Professor Ehsan Yarshater, one of the greatest living scholars of Persian history and literature, is profiled in the premier of Portraits on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Every other week, Portraits will paint a video portrait of a prominent Iranian, using his or her own words.
The weekly show Streets of Life will examine social issues and help audiences with day-to-day decisions. Hamideh Aramideh anchors Streets of Life Thursday at 9:00 pm.
Last Page will highlight the newsmakers of the week, delving into who they are, what they said and why it is important. Mehdi Falahati anchors the lively half-hour program that will include field reports, video clips and studio guests on Friday at 8:30pm.
Setareh Derakhshesh, one of VOA’s most recognizable personalities, interviews leading newsmakers to extract their personal perspectives on the most interesting issues of our time. Perspectives with Setareh Derakhshesh airs Saturday at 8:00 pm.
Later in January, two other programs make their debut: Inside USA will bring Iranian audiences in touch with Americans. Inside USA will report on American values and institutions. Inside USA airs every other Wednesday at 7:30 pm. And, Bijan Kian, former member of the Export-Import Bank Board of Directors, hosts a discussion program that looks at Iran’s place in the world economy. Checks and Balances will air Thursday at 7:30 pm starting January 26.
The new VOA Persian lineup is bookended with live editions of Tonight’s News, bringing Iranian audiences the first and last word about in the day’s news. Other changes include the expansion of the popular talk show Horizon to 60 minutes, four days a week at 8:00 pm, bringing Iranian audiences an extra half hour of intelligent discussion about the events of the day. Straight Talk expands to 60 minutes Monday – Friday at 10:00 pm, giving audiences in Iran more opportunity to voice their opinions about hot topics of the day through email, social media and phone calls.
VOA’s Persian Service programs are delivered on satellite, mobile and Internet platforms, including proxy servers designed to circumvent Iranian government efforts to block outside sources of news.
For more information about this release contact Kyle King at the VOA Public Relations office in Washington at kking@voanews.com. For information about any of our programs or links to our language service websites visit our main English language page at www.voanews.com.
