May 2005
Iranian exiles in the US are harnessing the power of the media to provoke regime change back home. Through uncensored satellite broadcasts they hope to encourage the masses to rise.
Zia Atabay was once a famous pop star in Iran. Now, he's pouring his money into his own personal TV station to send his message back home. "I know the Iranian government is dangerous," he states. By publicising dire images of the regime's misdeeds, he hopes to bring about change. Other satellite broadcasters are using more subtle methods to bring down the government. Dancing girls, pop music and fashion videos are all banned in Iran but lapped up by a hungry young audience. "Viewers want to see what they don't have. They want to see young people's lives in Western countries," explains TV presenter Luna Shadzi. Cultural freedom may prove more powerful than all the political propaganda.
Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures
