IRIB Shoma

IRIB Shoma, also known in Persian as Shabake-ye Shoma and translated as “Your Channel,” was a national public television channel operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Its programming was associated with the presentation of Iran’s regional and ethnic cultures, making it distinct from general-interest national channels within the IRIB television portfolio. The channel was designed for distribution across Iran rather than for a single provincial audience. IRIB Shoma began broadcasting on July 30, 2011. It was described as the second Iranian television channel to transmit in digital mode, reflecting the expansion of Iran’s digital terrestrial television infrastructure during the early 2010s. Viewers in many provinces could receive the service through digital set-top boxes, while satellite television also provided a means of access in areas equipped for satellite reception. The channel’s public-service role centered on television programs connected with the country’s cultural diversity and regional identities. In practical terms, this positioned IRIB Shoma as a platform for provincial and ethnic cultural representation within a centrally organized national broadcasting system. The available reference material does not provide a complete program catalogue, audience measurement series, commercial revenue data, or a detailed organizational structure. IRIB Shoma’s operating history included two major changes. On March 17, 2016, the service was shut down as part of a merger with IRIB Amoozesh. It subsequently returned to broadcasting on September 20, 2016. The relaunch indicates that the channel’s distinct identity was restored after the earlier consolidation, although the sources do not specify the precise programming, staffing, or technical changes associated with that return. In 2022, IRIB adopted what the reference material describes as synergistic policies affecting its channel portfolio. Under those policies, IRIB Shoma and IRIB Iran Kala were discontinued on July 27, 2022, with their signals ceasing at a later date. This ended IRIB Shoma’s operation as a separate television channel. No successor brand, replacement service, or post-closure ownership arrangement is identified in the available material. As a broadcaster rather than a conventional consumer-goods brand, IRIB Shoma’s principal offerings were television programming and channel distribution. Its brand value lay in its role within IRIB’s public broadcasting system and in its emphasis on cultural content from across Iran. The channel’s history illustrates the restructuring of Iranian digital television services through launches, mergers, relaunches, and eventual portfolio rationalization.

IRIB Shoma was an Iranian public television channel operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Its Persian name, Shabake-ye Shoma, can be translated as “Your Channel.” The service was conceived as a national platform with an emphasis on Iran’s regional and ethnic cultures, placing it within IRIB’s broader public-service television network rather than within the commercial broadcasting sector. The channel launched on July 30, 2011. Its introduction coincided with the development of digital television distribution in Iran, and it was identified as the second Iranian television channel to broadcast in digital mode. This technical position allowed the service to be received in many provinces through digital set-top boxes. Satellite television was also cited as another means by which viewers could access the channel. The available references do not establish a single headquarters location or provide detailed information about local production centers. In content terms, IRIB Shoma’s identity was tied to the representation of Iranian cultural variety. Its programming was associated with ethnic and regional culture, giving provincial and local identities a dedicated place within a nationally managed broadcasting structure. The available source material does not enumerate individual programs, presenters, production budgets, audience shares, or advertising arrangements, so the channel is best documented at the level of its institutional role and distribution history. The service underwent a significant restructuring in 2016. On March 17 of that year, IRIB Shoma was shut down through a merger with IRIB Amoozesh. This consolidation temporarily removed IRIB Shoma as a separate channel from the IRIB lineup. The channel was later relaunched on September 20, 2016, restoring its independent brand and broadcast identity. The sources do not explain whether the relaunch involved a change in editorial focus, transmission technology, schedule, or management. IRIB Shoma continued as part of IRIB’s television portfolio until a later reorganization. In 2022, IRIB applied policies described as seeking greater synergy among its services. As part of that process, IRIB Shoma and IRIB Iran Kala were discontinued on July 27, 2022. Their broadcast signals were shut down at a later date, so the administrative discontinuation and the technical end of transmission were not necessarily simultaneous. No successor channel or replacement brand is identified in the available references. The channel’s overall history therefore consists of four stages: its launch during Iran’s digital broadcasting expansion; operation as a national service centered on regional and ethnic culture; temporary closure through a merger and subsequent relaunch in 2016; and final discontinuation during IRIB’s 2022 portfolio rationalization. IRIB Shoma is now a defunct broadcaster, although its former website and streaming references may remain associated with the brand.

• 2022

  Discontinuation

  [1]IRIB Shomaen.wikipedia.org

  IRIB discontinued IRIB Shoma on July 27 as part of portfolio-synergy policies affecting it and IRIB Iran Kala. The signal was shut down later.

• 2016

  Merger with IRIB Amoozesh

  [1]IRIB Shomaen.wikipedia.org

  IRIB Shoma was shut down on March 17 and merged into IRIB Amoozesh.

• 2016

  Relaunch

  [1]IRIB Shomaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel returned as a separate service on September 20 after its earlier closure and merger.

• 2011

  Channel launch

  [1]IRIB Shomaen.wikipedia.org

  IRIB Shoma began broadcasting on July 30 as a national Iranian public television channel with a focus on regional and ethnic culture. It was described as the second Iranian television channel to broadcast in digital mode.

Public broadcasting channel focused on Iranian regional and ethnic culture.

• Public television channel · 2011

  IRIB Shoma television channel

  The core offering was a national Iranian television service operated by IRIB. It was distributed in many provinces through digital set-top boxes and was also accessible through satellite television. The channel’s editorial identity emphasized Iran’s ethnic and regional cultures, making it a dedicated cultural service within the broader IRIB television system. The channel launched in 2011, was temporarily merged into IRIB Amoozesh in 2016, relaunched later that year, and was discontinued in 2022.

• Television programming · 2011

  Regional and ethnic culture programming

  IRIB Shoma’s programming proposition centered on the cultural diversity of Iran. The service provided a national broadcast outlet for material associated with regional and ethnic identities. Available references confirm this broad focus but do not identify a complete list of named programs, genres, production units, or individual presenters.

• 2022

  Discontinue IRIB Shoma during portfolio rationalizationStrategy

  Background

  IRIB applied policies described as seeking synergy among its channels.

  Action taken

  IRIB Shoma and IRIB Iran Kala were discontinued on July 27, 2022, with their signals shut down at a later date.

  Aftermath

  IRIB Shoma ceased to operate as a separate television brand. The available references do not identify a successor service.

  Source

• 2016

  Merge IRIB Shoma into IRIB AmoozeshM&A

  Background

  IRIB restructured its television services and shut down IRIB Shoma on March 17, 2016.

  Action taken

  The channel was merged with IRIB Amoozesh, ending IRIB Shoma as a separate service at that point.

  Aftermath

  IRIB Shoma was relaunched on September 20, 2016, restoring the channel’s separate identity.

  Source

• 2016

  Relaunch IRIB ShomaProduct launch

  Background

  Following its March closure and merger with IRIB Amoozesh, IRIB restored IRIB Shoma as a separate channel.

  Action taken

  The service resumed broadcasting on September 20, 2016.

  Aftermath

  The channel continued as part of the IRIB television portfolio until its later discontinuation in 2022.

  Source

1. 1IRIB Shomaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2IRIB Shoma official websiteshomatv.ir