Channels
Persian TV in Canada: BBC Persian, MBC Persia, IFILM and IRIB Channels
Persian-speaking families in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and elsewhere have often relied on a satellite dish or a pay-TV language pack to keep up with channels from home. TiviLeaf carries a Persian group of more than 200 channels alongside the Canadian lineup, from $9 CAD a month, streamed over your internet connection with no dish. This guide covers what the group holds and how the clock works between Tehran and Canada.
Key takeaways
- The Persian group lists more than 200 channels: news, entertainment, music, films, and the state broadcaster IRIB’s national and specialist channels.
- News includes BBC Persian and Iran International. Entertainment and music include MBC Persia, PMC, Tapesh TV, Parsiland and Persiana.
- IFILM and Persian Film TV cover Iranian cinema, and IFILM has an English-language channel.
- Tehran is 8.5 hours ahead of Toronto in winter and 7.5 hours ahead in summer, so the evening news from Iran lands around lunchtime in Canada. Every channel has a 7-day replay.
- No dish, from $9 CAD per month, with a four-hour free trial.
What the Persian Group Carries
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| News | BBC Persian, Iran International |
| Entertainment and music | MBC Persia, PMC, Tapesh TV, Parsiland, Persiana 1, Persiana Classic, Mihan TV, Pars TV |
| Films and series | IFILM, IFILM English, Persian Film TV |
| IRIB national channels | IRIB TV 1, TV 2, TV 3, TV 4 and TV 5 |
| IRIB specialist channels | IRIB Amoozesh (education), IRIB Salamat (health), IRIB Nasim, IRIB Namayesh |
The group holds more than 200 channel entries in total, and the lineup changes over time. The channel list shows the current set, so check your own favourites during the free trial.
News From Home
Families choose Persian news differently depending on what they want from it, so the lineup carries more than one source. BBC Persian and Iran International are international news channels broadcasting in Persian, and the IRIB group adds the state broadcaster’s own news and national channels. Having several in one plan lets a household compare how the same story is told.
Entertainment, Music and Films
For evenings with the family, MBC Persia and the Persian music channels such as PMC, Tapesh and Persiana cover series, entertainment and music, and IFILM and Persian Film TV show Iranian films. IFILM also has an English-language channel, which is useful for children who understand Persian better than they read it.
The Clock Between Tehran and Canada
Iran does not use daylight saving time, so the gap to Canada changes with the Canadian clock changes. Here is what some typical Tehran programme times look like in Canada:
| Tehran time | Toronto and Montreal (winter / summer) | Vancouver (winter / summer) |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | 11:30 p.m. the day before / 12:30 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. the day before / 9:30 p.m. the day before |
| 8:00 p.m. | 11:30 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. / 9:30 a.m. |
| 10:00 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | 10:30 a.m. / 11:30 a.m. |
In practice the evening news and prime-time series fall in the Canadian middle of the day, which is awkward for people at work. Every channel has a 7-day replay, so the programme you missed at lunch can wait until you are home.
Setting It Up
- Free trial: four hours from your first login, enough to check your channels on your own device.
- Devices: the installation guide covers Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung and LG TVs, phones, tablets and computers.
- Whole household: two- and three-device plans are available on every subscription length, so the news and the children’s programmes can play at the same time.
- Price: from $9 CAD per month with no contract. Plans and pricing are listed at tivileaf.com/#pricing.
FAQ
Can I watch Persian channels in Canada without a satellite dish?
Yes. TiviLeaf streams over your internet connection, so there is no dish and no installer. The Persian group lists more than 200 channels.
Which Persian news channels are included?
BBC Persian and Iran International are in the lineup, along with the national and specialist channels of the state broadcaster IRIB.
Are there Persian movies and series?
Yes. IFILM, IFILM English and Persian Film TV show Iranian films, and MBC Persia and the Persian music and entertainment channels carry series and shows.
What time is Iranian TV in Canada?
Tehran is 8.5 hours ahead of Toronto in winter and 7.5 hours ahead in summer, because Iran does not observe daylight saving time. An 8:00 p.m. programme in Tehran is at 11:30 a.m. in Toronto in winter.
Can I watch on more than one TV?
Yes. You can install TiviLeaf on as many devices as you like, and two- and three-device plans let more than one screen stream at the same moment.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. It lasts four hours from your first login, enough to check your channels on your own device.