From the Global Pool to the National Screen:
A Quantitative Analysis of Film Selection and Dubbing Practices on IRIB (2005–2015)
Abstract
This study presents a large-scale quantitative analysis of American films selected for dubbing and broadcast by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) between 2005 and 2015. By comparing a corpus of 540 IRIB-dubbed films against a comprehensive pool of 17,128 eligible Hollywood feature films, this study sought to identify the systematic patterns in institutional selection and adaptation. This analysis examined key variables, including runtime modification, genre distribution, award recognition, director and star prominence, certification profile, and commercial success. The findings revealed a highly selective curation process, with IRIB broadcasting only 3.15% of Hollywood films from 2005 to 2015. Furthermore, a systematic practice of content modification is evident, with dubbed films being shortened by an average of 19.03% of their original runtime. The study demonstrated a significant statistical preference for genres such as Action and Adventure and for films that have achieved commercial success and critical acclaim. According to the statistical analysis of directors’ and stars’ presence, a film’s chances of selection increase significantly if it features actors and filmmakers who are part of the canon formed by IRIB. From a DTS standpoint, these findings illustrate how AVT is situated in its target system as a norm-governed practice to serve dominant cultural repertoires. From a broader cultural-theoretical lens, what is presented to the public as translation thus functions as a form of managed rewriting, oriented towards expanding the reach of the Self rather than admitting the alterity of the Other.
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