There is no cable, and satellite TV is illegal. This does not prevent most foreigners and many Iranians from setting up discreet dishes. Free satellite channels are mostly Arabic, Italian and German. One can usually connect and will seldom be disconnected. They do control access to some websites.
Wages are extremely low and the tax system is prohibitive for foreigners in the local economy.
One can have a very active social life, but only in each other's homes. There are 92 embassies and consulates, as well as a variety of international businesses and several UN and foreign news agencies. All together, there are fewer than 5,000 Expats here, not counting foreign spouses of Iranians. There are about 700 foreign children enrolled in the international schools. Four Roman Catholic churches have services in English, French, Korean, and Italian, and there is one German Evangelical church.