Foreign channels with ads cause Tk 2,000cr loss a year: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said Bangladesh is losing investment worth around Tk 2,000 crore every year because of the broadcast of foreign channels with advertisements.

“Foreign TV channels have been airing progammes in Bangladesh over the years ignoring our law,” said the minister adding that both the foreign channels and the local operators must abide by the country’s law to broadcast clean feed.

He asserted that the government did not shut any foreign TV channel as Bangladesh’s sky is open.

“The agents of foreign channels and operators have stopped broadcast as they failed to air advertisement-free programmes or clean feed. There’s no restriction on broadcasting foreign channels that are giving clean feed,” he said while talking to reporters at Chattogram Shilpakala Academy after attending a symposium on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birthday, reports UNB.

The minister said the government’s decision was lauded by the Association of Television Channel Owners and others concerned. He hoped that the foreign TV channels will soon start providing clean feed to Bangladesh.

He said the decision of enforcement of the law from October 1 was taken after a meeting with the agents of foreign channels, cable operators and owners of local TV channels. Mobile courts would be conducted against the violators, he added.