| Navad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Adel Ferdosipour |
| Presented by | Bahador Amiri, Hamed Rastgoo, Nima Tajik,Mohammad Hossein Misaghi, Pedram Arab, Reza Younesian, Mohammad Hossein Ayoubian, Behzad Mokhtari, Navid Ostadrahimi |
| Opening theme | Introduction |
| Ending theme | Iran Pro League &Azadegan League Weekly Highlight |
| Country of origin | Iran |
| Original language | Persian |
| No. of seasons | 20 |
| No. of episodes | 490 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | Mondays night and Sometimes Thursdays night (180 min) |
| Original release | |
| Network | IRIB TV3 |
| Release | 14 August 1999 (1999-08-14) – 11 March 2019 (2019-03-11)[1] |
Navad (Persian:نود, meaning "ninety [minutes]") was one of the most popularIranian,Persian language, weekly television programs broadcast byChannel 3 inIran and hosted byAdel Ferdosipour. The program focused on the football matches played in thePersian Gulf Pro League every week.[2]
Every episode typically featured two guests, one who analyzed the technical aspects of the matches, and the other discussed the referee's decisions and errors. On some shows, famous football players were invited and interviewed as well. (Analyzor has currently replaced by an analysis segment)Na.)ad show contained segments like "With the Legionnaires" (reporting on the Iranian footballers playing abroad), "Navad News" (the latest news about football in Iran) and polls (sometimes prediction of the upcoming matches) which could be contributed via SMS or theNavad official app on iOS and Android.
Since the 2015-16 series, the analysis team of the program scores the players ofPersian Gulf Pro League each week and overall, on the style ofKicker, from 1.00 (best) to 6.00 (worst).[3]
Starting by the 2016–17 series, theNavad website launched a football manager online game using live stats of the players contributing in theIran Pro League, entitledFootball Fantasy.[4]
In late 2018, tensions betweenAli Foroughi, the newly appointed director ofIRIB TV3, and renowned sports commentatorAdel Ferdosipour came to a head. Speculation arose over the cancellation of Ferdosipour's popular sports show, "90," with many citing the director's alleged opposition to the program. Despite initial denials, a subsequent statement from IRIB TV3 confirmed that the show would not air due to the producer and host's "unprofessional behavior." This marked the beginning of a public feud that would have far-reaching consequences for Iranian sports broadcasting.[5]
The decision to cancel "90" sparked widespread public outrage and support for Ferdosipour. In recognition of his work, Ferdosipour was awarded the Best Television Program award by a popular vote, a clear indication of the public's dissatisfaction with the decision to remove his show from the air. In his acceptance speech, Ferdosipour alluded to the challenges he had faced and thanked the audience for their support. Despite the award, however, the Iranian state broadcaster persisted in its decision to end the long-running program.[6]
In early 2019, the Iranian state broadcaster officially announced the permanent cancellation of "90." Ferdowsipour rejected offers to remain with the network in other capacities, stating that the show was like a child to him and that he could not abandon it. The cancellation of "90" was met with widespread condemnation from fans, media personalities, and the public at large. Subsequent efforts to reinstate the show were unsuccessful, and the program was eventually replaced with a new sports show. The conflict between Ferdowsipour and Foroughi became a symbol of the broader tensions between theIranian government and its citizens, as well as the challenges faced by independent voices in the country's state-controlled media.[7]