Marjan Television Network
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television, Media |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Kayvan Abbassi, Marjan Abbassi |
| Defunct | 2024 |
| Fate | Liquidated |
| Successor | WizeWorx Media |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Key people | Kayvan Abbassi Founder & former CEO |
Number of employees | 100+ (2014) |
Marjan Television Network Ltd was a London-based television production and broadcasting company established in 2009 to develop Persian-language television content for audiences primarily in Iran and the Iranian diaspora.[1] The company was best known as the original operating and production entity behind the Persian-language satellite television channel Manoto.[2]
The company entered liquidation in 2024 and subsequently ceased operations.[3] Following the liquidation, the Manoto television brand, intellectual property, and broadcasting activities were transferred to a newly established entity, WizeWorx Media, which assumed ownership and operational control of the channel.[4][5]
History
Marjan Television Network Ltd was founded in 2009 by Kayvan Abbassi and Marjan Abbassi, a UK-based Iranian couple.[6] The company was established as a platform to develop and launch Persian-language television channels, producing entertainment, documentary, and cultural programming aimed at Persian-speaking audiences worldwide.[7]
Operating from London, the company maintained a low public profile, and its founders and senior executives generally declined media interviews.[8]
Manoto
The company’s primary project was Manoto, a Persian-language satellite television channel launched in 2010.[9] The channel gained significant viewership inside Iran and among the Iranian diaspora, broadcasting entertainment shows, documentaries, talent competitions, and acquired international formats adapted for Persian audiences.[10]
Manoto temporarily suspended operations in 2023 amid financial and operational challenges.[11]
Liquidation and successor
In 2024, Marjan Television Network Ltd entered formal liquidation under UK insolvency proceedings.[12] As part of the restructuring process, Manoto's brand assets, archives, and broadcasting activities were transferred to WizeWorx Media, which relaunched the channel under new ownership and management.[13][14]
References
- ^ "London TV channel dips a toe into Iran culture war". Reuters. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016.
- ^ "About Us". Manoto TV. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Marjan Television Network Ltd – Filing history". UK Companies House. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Persian-language broadcaster Manoto resumes operations under new ownership". BBC Persian. 2024.
- ^ "Manoto TV returns after shutdown". Al-Monitor. 2024.
- ^ "Iranian satellite TV from London". The Guardian. 2011.
- ^ "Marjan TV Network homepage". Marjan Television Network. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011.
- ^ "Inside London's Persian TV scene". Financial Times. 2013.
- ^ "Manoto TV launches". Reuters. 2010.
- ^ "Satellite television and cultural consumption in Iran". Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication. 2015.
- ^ "Manoto TV shuts down operations". BBC Persian. 2023.
- ^ "Notice of liquidation". The Gazette (UK). 2024.
- ^ "Manoto TV relaunches under new company". Middle East Eye. 2024.
- ^ "Iranian diaspora channel returns". Deutsche Welle. 2024.