The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB; ) formerly called National Iranian Radio and Television until the Iranian revolution of 1979, is an Iranian state-controlled media corporation that holds a monopoly of domestic radio and television services in Iran. It is also among the largest media organizations in Asia and the Pacific region and a regular member of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Its head is appointed directly by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. With 13,000 employees and branches in 20 countries worldwide, including France, Belgium, Malaysia, Lebanon, United Kingdom, the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting offers both domestic and foreign radio and television services, broadcasting 12 domestic television channels, 4 international news television channels, six satellite television channels for international audiences, and 30 provincial television channels available countrywide, half of which are broadcast in minority-status languages in Iran, for example Azerbaijani and Kurdish, as well as the local accents or dialects of Persian. The IRIB provides twelve radio stations for domestic audiences and through the IRIB World Service thirty radio stations are available for foreign and international audiences. It also publishes the Persian-language newspaper Jam-e Jam. History before 1979 revolution On 24 April 1940, Radio Iran officialy opened by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi –Iran crown prince at the time– and Isa Sedigh was the first head of it. the radio had 5 hours program a day and broadcast programs like domestic and foreign news, Iranian and western traditional music, religious and sports and also economic and political discussion. according to Statistical Centre of Iran estimates, in 1976 about 76% of urban population and 45% of rural population accessed to the radio. National Iranian Television officialy opened on 21 March 1967 to create National Iranian Radio and Television. At that time hardware equipment was at Post ministry, Telegraph and Telephone disposal and its media was producing by Advertising and publishing department. In later years radio and television expansion request across the country to create an integrated entity and from 1971 all facilities was given to National Radio and Television. Shah personally appointed Reza Ghotbi in head of organization and the time of programs increased quickly. At the end of revolution two TV channel (first program and second program) was active and with facilities expantion, more than 95% of Urban population and about 75% of country population was able to receive TV waves. Before revolution about 40% of TV