Radio Farda

What Radio Farda does

Radio Farda (رادیو فردا) is the Persian-language broadcasting service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a U.S. government-funded non-profit incorporated in the District of Columbia and headquartered operationally in Prague, Czech Republic. Founded in 2006 under the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the service delivers news, analysis, and current-affairs content in Persian to audiences in Iran and the wider Persian-speaking diaspora, targeting a population that faces heavy state censorship of independent media.

The product surface is a multi-platform media portfolio built around an internet-based multimedia hub (radiofarda.com), live radio broadcasts distributed via shortwave (امواج کوتاه), FM frequencies, and online streaming, plus more than 40 named podcasts covering news, politics, economy, culture, women's issues, human rights, technology, science, cinema, sports, and satire. Distribution extends across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, CastBox, SoundCloud, YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, and RSS/email. A distinctive technical component is the integration with Psiphon circumvention infrastructure, surfaced through dedicated branded email channels ([email protected], [email protected]) and mobile/desktop apps, allowing Iranian listeners to bypass government filtering.

The business model is non-commercial and non-transactional: all content is provided free to consumers, with no advertising, subscription, or sponsorship revenue. Operations are funded entirely through annual U.S. Congressional appropriations administered by USAGM, making the organization functionally a public-service international broadcaster rather than a for-profit enterprise. Headcount sits in the 51–100 range, and the service was materially affected by 2025 mass layoffs initiated by the Trump administration across USAGM-funded outlets broadcasting in 49 languages.

Name

Radio Farda

Legal name

RFE/RL, Inc.

Website

https://radiofarda.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Radio Farda is a U.S. Congress-funded Persian-language international broadcaster, operated by RFE/RL under USAGM from Prague, delivering uncensored news, radio programs, and 40+ podcasts to audiences in Iran and the Persian-speaking diaspora via shortwave, web, mobile, and circumvention tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPABAIAI

News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Broadcast News & Current Affairs Channels

SECONDARYMPABABAD

News/Talk Radio Networks

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Broadcast Radio Networks

SECONDARYMPAIADAJ

Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Audio Streaming & Podcast Platforms

Keywords

• International broadcasting
• Persian language news
• Public service media
• Digital news platform
• Internet circumvention tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Radio Farda (رادیو فردا) is a US-funded Persian-language news and broadcasting service that delivers accurate, independent journalism to audiences in Iran and the Persian-speaking diaspora. It operates a multi-platform media portfolio consisting of live radio broadcasts (shortwave, FM, online streaming), a news website with articles and investigative reports, video reports, photo galleries, and over 40 podcast programs covering news, politics, culture, sports, women's issues, human rights, and technology. The service also distributes Psiphon VPN/circumvention tools to help Iranian users bypass government internet filtering.

Product overview

Radio Farda is a US-funded Persian-language news and broadcasting service operated by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) under the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The organization provides a comprehensive multi-platform media portfolio consisting of live radio broadcasts, news articles, video reports, photo galleries, and over 40 podcast programs covering news, politics, economy, culture, arts, sports, women's issues, human rights, technology, science, and satire. The service targets Farsi-speaking audiences, particularly those in Iran, and also provides circumvention tools like Psiphon to help users bypass internet filtering. The platform offers content through its website, mobile apps, podcast aggregators (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, CastBox, SoundCloud), social media, and traditional radio frequencies including shortwave.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Radio Farda (رادیو فردا) Persian-language News and Broadcasting Service The core Persian-language news and broadcasting service providing live radio, news articles, video reports, and photo galleries targeting Farsi-speaking audiences, particularly in Iran.
• Radio Programs (برنامه‌های رادیویی)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)coreOthersRadio Farda is a dedicated section/brand of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), operating under the same organizational structure, editorial standards, and mission. RFE/RL is an international communications organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East, and Balkan countries.
• Psiphon Inc. (Cytron / Psiphon Labs)coreTechnology or IntegrationRadio Farda provides guidance and access channels for obtaining the Psiphon circumvention tool to its Iranian audience. Psiphon is an open-source VPN/proxy technology designed to bypass internet filtering. Radio Farda facilitates access via dedicated email addresses ([email protected], [email protected]) and website guides, particularly when other circumvention methods are blocked in Iran.

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Voice of America (VOA) Persian Service: VOA is a US government-funded international broadcaster under the same USAGM parent as Radio Farda, producing Persian-language news for Iranian audiences. It is the most direct peer, sharing funding source, mission, target audience, and editorial standards.
• BBC News Persian: BBC Persian is a UK-funded international service providing news and analysis in Persian to Iranian and diaspora audiences. It competes directly for the same audience with overlapping radio, web, video, and social media distribution.
• Deutsche Welle Persian (DW): Deutsche Welle operates a Persian-language service under German public broadcasting funding, delivering news and analysis to Iranian audiences via web, video, and social media. Comparable mission and audience to Radio Farda.
• Iran International: Iran International is a London-based Persian-language satellite and digital news broadcaster targeting Iranian audiences with news and current affairs. It competes directly with Radio Farda for viewership/listenership in the Persian-speaking market.
• Manoto TV: Manoto is a London-based Persian-language entertainment and news TV channel serving Iranian and diaspora audiences. Comparable target demographic and Persian-language delivery model, though more entertainment-led.
• Radio Zamaneh: Radio Zamaneh is an Amsterdam-based Persian-language news and culture radio station serving Iranian audiences with independent journalism. Comparable niche radio broadcasting model for Persian-speaking audiences.
• France 24 Persian: France 24 operates a Persian-language news service under French public broadcasting funding, providing news and analysis for Iranian audiences via web and social media. Comparable government-funded international broadcaster targeting Iran.

Broad incumbents

• Al Jazeera Persian / Al Jazeera Mubasher: Al Jazeera is a Qatar-funded international news network with Persian-language coverage and broader Middle East programming. While broader in scope, it overlaps with Radio Farda in covering Iran-related news for Persian-speaking audiences.
• Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL): RFE/RL is Radio Farda's parent organization and the umbrella international broadcaster serving 27+ language markets. While Radio Farda is a Persian service within RFE/RL, RFE/RL is its closest institutional peer and operational backbone.

Others

• Psiphon Inc. Psiphon is the circumvention technology provider that Radio Farda integrates and distributes to its Iranian audience. Not a content peer, but a critical infrastructure enabler and explicit technology partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/radiofarda_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheRadiofarda
• Facebookfacebook.com/radio.farda
• Instagraminstagram.com/radiofarda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rferl-persian-service

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Radio Farda