The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Organization (IRIB) is the most financially detrimental government entity in the country, with a substantial budget but a limited audience. The Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament) has mandated the Organization of Planning and Budget to increase the government’s share in providing funding for IRIB by 43% compared to 2023, and this increase should be considered as the baseline for subsequent annual increases starting from 2024.
In a report, the state-run Eghtesaad24 website criticized the performance of the largest state media in Iran, stating, “The declining public interest in IRIB programs, allocating more time to commercial advertisements, and misuse of national resources for producing low-quality entertainment shows and mixed programs, inefficient management, and partisan management are among the weaknesses of this media outlet, which tarnishes its national reputation.”
According to the aforementioned report, Iran’s state television, with a financial turnover of 140 trillion rials (approximately $279.441 million), has emerged as one of the most detrimental entities among 17 companies and institutions in the 2023 budget, with its losses being covered from the general budget.
Based on this report, IRIB is one of the “budget-consuming” institutions in the country. Sometimes, it faces budget shortages for the quantitative and qualitative development of its production programs, animations, documentaries, films, and TV series. However, the Development Fund’s coffers continue to be generously opened for IRIB.
According to the Eghtesaad24 report, in the 2024 budget bill, the total expenses of IRIB were estimated at 140 trillion rials. Of this amount, less than half, namely 64,000 billion rials (approximately $127.744 million), should come from IRIB’s dedicated resources, including advertising and other economic activities, while the remaining 56%, should be covered from the general budget, such as oil sales revenue and taxes.
While IRIB has been a “budget-consuming” organization in recent years with repeated and incremental budget increases, it seems that the people should expect another substantial increase in its budget in 2024. This time, with the budget becoming taxable in the coming year, the increase is expected to be directly transferred from the citizens’ pockets to IRIB’s accounts.
It is well known that the IRIB is one of the most heavily budgeted and highly sensitive organizations for the clerical regime, and the regime utilizes this organization alongside the IRGC, the intelligence services, and the State Security Force for suppression and censorship. The organization also serves to export fundamentalism and spread terrorism abroad alongside the Quds Force.
