Discover Iran: A grand media campaign showcasing South Khorasan’s potential

Pars Today – The national event “Iran-e Jan” (“Dear Iran”), focusing on the diverse cultural, economic, mineral, and tourism capacities of South Khorasan Province in eastern Iran, has become a major focus of the radio and television networks of the IRIB’s World Service.

The national event “Iran-e Jan” (“Dear Iran”), organized by the IRIB World Service under the campaign title “Discover Iran,” is dedicated this week to showcasing the attractions and capabilities of South Khorasan Province. The initiative aims to present the province’s diverse features and potentials to both domestic and international audiences.

South Khorasan, the third-largest province in Iran and the one with the longest border with Afghanistan, is a young region with remarkable potential in agriculture, culture, trade, economy, science, mining, tourism, and historical heritage. These diverse capacities have made South Khorasan one of Iran’s key provinces on the path of growth and development, offering vast opportunities to showcase Iran’s identity and potential at both national and international levels.

In line with this initiative, the radio and television networks of the IRIB World Service, alongside other national networks, have produced and broadcast a variety of programs in formats including talk shows, documentaries, short features, interstitials, clips, fillers, podcasts, and videocasts. Additionally, their websites, social media channels, and affiliated platforms have showcased various aspects of South Khorasan through news reports, articles, photo albums, and updated videos. This report highlights some of these programs and media efforts under the campaign “Iran-e Jan: Iran's South Khorasan”
 Sahab Network: Production and broadcast of special radio programs and cultural interludes
As part of the national campaign, Discover Iran, the Culture and Knowledge Group of Sahab Network has produced five radio episodes titled “Discover Iran” and four podcasts under the title “Discover Iran.” After translation and language adaptation by the network’s team, these programs will be broadcast on the World Service radios and uploaded to the Iran Radio website as well as the network’s social media channels.

The News and Commentary Group of Sahab Network is also producing and releasing four news reports focused on introducing South Khorasan Province. In addition to radio broadcasts, these reports will be published on the radio websites and across digital platforms.

Moreover, all channels of Sahab Network are jointly producing a series of programs centered on South Khorasan, including: 101 interludes introducing the province and its attractions, features on the province’s tourist villages, introductions to the poet and scholar Ibn Hessam, coverage of Akbarieh Garden, and interludes focused on saffron, jujube, and pistachios. Sahab Network’s English radio has also dedicated a special program titled “Iran” to this week’s Iranian focus: South Khorasan Province.

Sahar Global Network: Production and broadcast of multilingual programs
As part of the “Discover Iran” campaign, Sahar Global Network has prepared and broadcast a series of multilingual media productions focusing on South Khorasan Province. The network, which includes five television channels in Bosnian, Kurdish (Sorani and Kurmanji), Azeri, Urdu, and Dari, has produced fillers highlighting topics such as agricultural products, tourist attractions, UNESCO-listed geoparks, and handicrafts at various intervals. Additionally, the 13-episode animated series “Hopperi” has been broadcast as part of the network’s joint programming across channels.

Given South Khorasan’s proximity to Afghanistan and its cultural and linguistic ties with the country’s Persian-speaking population, Sahar Afghanistan Channel provides extensive coverage and storytelling about the province.

iFilm: Special coverage of “Discover Iran” campaign in South Khorasan
All iFilm channels — Arabic, Persian, English, and Dari — are covering the national event “Dear Iran” and the “Discover Iran” media campaign through fillers, clips, and interludes. However, on the iFilm Dari channel, the campaign receives particularly focused attention, with a greater emphasis on introducing South Khorasan Province.

Among the channel’s main features is the broadcast of seven documentaries covering cultural, social, and environmental topics, as well as introducing the different regions, sites, and ecosystems of South Khorasan Province. Additionally, through the program “You and iFilm,” the campaign is presented as a full show and also in the form of short segments aired on different days. The iFilm website, social media channels, and affiliated platforms further strengthen coverage of the South Khorasan campaign throughout the week by updating a variety of content, including photos, videos, and podcasts.

Press TV: Engaging شudiences with “Iran Today” and “Iran Tech”
Press TV has involved its audiences in programs focused on South Khorasan Province through “Iran Today” and “Iran Tech.” In “Iran Today,” the network introduces the province’s cultural and tourism attractions to international viewers, while “Iran Tech” focuses on the region’s scientific achievements and technological advancements.

In addition, Press TV conveys the “Dear Iran” campaign message more broadly to audiences through short interstitial fillers produced in English, designed to showcase glimpses of the province’s beauty and capabilities, which are broadcast between various programs.

HispanTV: Spanish-language programs highlighting South Khorasan
HispanTV, the Spanish-language network of the IRIB World Service, has introduced South Khorasan Province through the broadcast of 11 fillers, including: Iran Program, Kalmard Caravansary, Deyhouk, Khor, Tabas, Posht-e Siah Desert, Esfahak, Azmeyghan, Saffron Harvest, Qaenat, Handicrafts, Birjand Castle, Birjand City, and Shokatieh School, as well as the program Iran Sin Filtro.

Additionally, documentaries such as Khavaran Heritage: Zirkouh, Organic Crop Farming, Date Farming, and Desert Travelogue are part of the broadcast schedule. HispanTV is also airing 16 timelapse features titled Bento Nit, Coal, Magnesite, Handicrafts, Pistachio, Saffron, and Barberry.

Al-Alam: On-site team and production of short interstitials
Al-Alam, the IRIB World Service network, has dispatched a team to South Khorasan Province to produce and broadcast programs both independently and in collaboration with the network’s production center. Broadcasting several short interstitials and fillers is also a common activity for the network as part of the “Dear Iran” campaign.

Through the combined efforts of its radio and television World Service networks—producing documentaries, interludes, fillers, and digital content—the “Dear Iran” national event has successfully showcased the diverse features of Iran’s provinces to international audiences.

This campaign has demonstrated that global media can effectively reflect the tourism, cultural, economic, and historical capacities of Iran’s provinces, offering a vivid, multidimensional portrayal of the lives and capabilities of local communities. “Discover Iran” is a successful example of how international media can promote the country’s potential and enhance global audiences’ understanding of Iran’s provinces.