Manoto

Manoto
CountryUnited Kingdom
HeadquartersLondon
Programming
LanguagesPersian
English
Picture format576i (16:9 SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerWizeWorx Media Ltd.
Sister channelsManoto 2 (closed in June 2011)
History
Launched28 October 2010 (2010-10-28)
Closed31 January 2024 (2024-01-31) (ceased satellite broadcasting)
Former namesManoto 1
Links
Websitewww.manototv.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Oqaab
(Afghanistan)		Channel 51
Streaming media
manototv.comWatch live

Manoto (Persian: من و تو, lit. 'You and I') is an international free-to-air Persian language general entertainment channel launched in October 2010, owned by Marjan Television Network. It is based in London and its programs included documentaries, films, series, news and reports.[1][2] Manoto promotes Iranian monarchism,[3] and backs former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.[4][5]

The channel ceased satellite broadcasting on 31 January 2024,[6] but continued to operate via social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.[7] In 2025, Manoto returned as a subscription service internationally, and free-to-air in Iran via satellite.[8]

Overview

Marjan Television Network was established by Kayvan Abbassi and Marjan Abbassi.

Manoto's funding came from venture capitalists, according to a 2011 report on human rights and information access in Iran by the Foreign Policy Centre, a UK-based independent think tank. The report did not name the venture capital firms behind the station.[9] However, many Iranian analysts believed that the channel was promoting Iran's ousted monarchy.[10]

Kayvan and Marjan Abbassi, the UK-based Iranian couple who launched Manoto 1, in 2010, stayed out of the media spotlight. They and other Manoto 1 officials had usually declined to comment for their company and TV channel despite repeated requests for interviews.[9]

Viewership

Manoto's viewership rates were difficult to determine; however, anecdotal reports about the channel's ubiquitous popularity suggested that it had gained rapidly in market share to rival more established satellite channels like BBC Persian and VOA Persian TV. According to a BBC report in 2008, these channels may be watched by at least 30 percent of households inside Iran.[11]

Befarmaeed Sham

Befarmaeed Sham (Befarmāid Ŝām) (English: "Come Dine with Me"), is the Iranian version of the original British cooking show Come Dine with Me, in which participants host dinner parties and compete for the title of best cook and entertainer.

Googoosh Music Academy

Main article: Googoosh Music Academy

In this program, Googoosh and her team of experts, Hooman Khalatbari and Babak Saeedi, help unknown Iranian performers maximize their talent in vocal music and singing, like the American program, American Idol. Hosted by Raha Etemadi, it was also launched in the British TV channel, Unique TV.[12]

Manoto Stage

Main article: Stage (Iranian TV series)

Manoto Stage was the biggest Persian-language talent show airing from London, England. It was hosted by Raha Etemadi and produced by Roxy Amini and Saber (Roxy Saber). Stage invited four Iranian music producers to coach, help, and judge the contestants: Reza Rouhani, Babak Saeedi, Hamed Nikpay and Sharam Azar (Sandi). Amir Hussein Eftekhari from Hamed Nikpay's group won the first airing of the show with a $50,000 prize.[13] In addition, Stage brought in several famous musical guest stars to perform live on the show, including Aref, Afshin,[14] Sepideh,[15] Ava Bahram[16] and Shahab Tiam.[17]

Miss World and Miss Universe

Miss World and Miss Universe, both are part of the Big Four international beauty pageants, were shown on Manoto TV every year since 2011.

Manoto Plus

For one hour a day, five days a week this prime time magazine-style program, produced by Kasra Ghiassi and hosted by Sahar Sagharchi and Shaho Falahi, looked at topical stories from around the world. With some in-depth segments, as well as more light-hearted material, the show attracted big-name Iranian celebrity guests and a loyal following. Vahid Mahdavi presenting short reports all around the world and Lola Yeganeh Ameri presenting and producing the fashion content for the live show as well covering fashion, beauty, and culture topics around the world.

Political positions

Manoto TV backs former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.[4][5] It is described by Bloomberg News as an "explicitly monarchist, anti-regime and pro-Israel" broadcaster.[3]

Armin Messager writes that Manoto creates a nostalgia for the return of the Pahlavi dynasty, while completely omitting the torture and wealth inequality that occurred during Pahlavi rule.[18] Messager gives as an example where Manoto broadcast an interview with a former SAVAK official Parviz Sabeti, who justified torturing dissidents during Pahlavi rule.[18]

References

  1. ^ "About us". Manoto. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  2. ^ "~ﺱ ﺍﺯ "ﺑﻔﺮﻣﺎﯾﯿﺪ ﺷﺎﻡ ﺍﯾﺮﺍﻧﯽ" ﻧﻮﺑﺖ "ﺁﮐﺎﺩﻣﯽ ﻣﻮﺳﯿﻘﯽ ﺍﯾﺮﺍﻧﯽ" ﺭﺳﯿﺪ!" (in Persian). ﺳﯿﻨﻤﺎﯼ ﻣﺎ. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Iran's Exiled Prince Is Buoyed by Nation Desperate for Change". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026. Manoto TV and Iran International emerged as explicitly monarchist, anti-regime and pro-Israel broadcasters, becoming one of the most effective propaganda weapons against the Islamic Republic and a major boon to Pahlavi.
  4. ^ a b Bajoghli, Narges (18 March 2026). "A London Television Station Has Convinced Iran the Shah Was Great". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b "How a shadowy, hawkish new group tied to Iranian monarchists is gaining influence in Congress | Responsible Statecraft". responsiblestatecraft.org. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  6. ^ "آخرین روز، ۳۱ جنوری؛ بسته شدن شبکه تلویزیونی من‌وتو قطعی شد". Iran International (in Persian). 5 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  7. ^ "در جستجوی یک رؤیا برای "من و تو"؛ یک تلویزیون ملی و محبوب و خاطره‌انگیز…". Kayhan London (in Persian). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  8. ^ @manototv (9 January 2025). "برای اینکه بتوانید منوتو را در یوتیوب تماشا کنید، باید عضو(JOIN) شوید..." [To watch Menuto on YouTube, you must JOIN...] (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  9. ^ a b Torbati, Yeganeh. "London TV channel dips a toe into Iran culture war". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  10. ^ Monavar Khalaj (10 April 2013). "Primetime battle for Iran's airwaves". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Blog | Manoto TV". FRONTLINE. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Googoosh Music Academy". Unique Television. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  13. ^ تو, Manoto من و. "Manoto TV". Manoto TV.
  14. ^ تو, Manoto من و. "Afshin Performance at 23:30 قسمت ۱۸ - نتیجه". Manoto TV (in Persian). Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  15. ^ تو, Manoto من و. "Sepideh Performance at 1:20:10 قسمت ۲۲ - نتیجه نهایی". Manoto TV (in Persian). Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Home". www.avabahram.com. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  17. ^ تو, Manoto من و. "Shahab Tiam performance at 21:20 قسمت ۱۰ - اعلام نتیجه هفته سوم". Manoto TV (in Persian). Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Iran's monarchists: Producing nostalgia, courting war | Armin Messager | Qantara.de". qantara.de. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
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