Analytical History of Television Ownership in Iran, Based on Legal Ownership Documents

This study, considering the "the need for historical analysis of cultural and communication issues for policy making", has explored the issue of monopoly in the ownership of Iranian TV networks. Existence of such an issue is the product of extensive and deep-rooted historical heritage and time accumulation. This research, using historical analysis method, is an attempt answer three questions: According to historical documents and events, how the ownership system of television network in Iran has changed? Has the ownership of TV networks ever been monopolized, since their establishments? In post Islamic Revolution, to what extent this system of ownership has changed? Findings show that the exclusive ownership of television has been continuous, prevailing and deeply-routed. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, although the ruling of the Article 44 of the country’s Constitution, which determines the type of ownership of television networks, and the detailed Minutes of Meeting of the Assembly of Experts, is the de-monopolization of television, in practice in recent years, the meaning of the concept of monopoly has been taken away and the trend of monopoly of the ownership of the TV networks, has continued. In recent years, the instruction issued by the Supreme Leader regarding the rulings of the Article 44, despite the historical background, has created a new potential for the de-monopolization of the ownership of the TV networks.