by Jules Gomes, Focus on Western Islamism
But New Rules Could Stop LuaLua TV from Promoting Hamas, Hezbollah
The U.K. media regulator, Ofcom, and counter-terrorism police have yet to shut down LuaLua TV, an Iran-linked media outlet accused of broadcasting Iranian regime propaganda “with impunity” and even promoting proscribed terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Despite appeals from lawmakers, Jewish bodies, and intelligence experts, Ofcom maintains it is powerless to ban the “propaganda arm” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) because LuaLua TV streams online using YouTube, a loophole not covered by Ofcom rules. The loophole appears to be a source of frustration for Ofcom officials.
“LuaLua TV is available in the U.K. only as an online streaming service. Online streams of TV channels are not covered by Ofcom’s broadcasting rules unless the service is also listed on a regulated TV guide, such as Sky, Virgin, Freeview or Freesat,” an Ofcom spokesperson told Focus on Western Islamism (FWI). “Since Lualua TV only streams online and does not appear on a regulated guide in the UK, its content is not subject to Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code or related regulations.
However, Ofcom’s draft new Code of Standards issued in May 2026, which sets rules for streaming services and includes rules that prohibit terrorism content and material likely to incite violence or hatred, could be used to ban the IRGC-linked media and Shells for Media Productions Limited, the parent corporation and licensee of LuaLua TV.
While the code is still in the consultation phase, the new rules would consider “material the inclusion of which in an on-demand program service” as “an offence under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (encouragement of terrorism).” The consultation ends in August.