Cable operators resume broadcast of 19 channels

Nineteen foreign TV channels, including the BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Star Sports, Ten Sports, and Deutsche Welle, has resumed broadcasting in Bangladesh as they provide a ‘clean feed’ in line with Bangladesh’s regulations.

Confirming the matter to The Business Post, SM Anwar Parvez, president of the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh, says the association received a list of 19 foreign channels running ‘clean feeds’ from the government on Monday. They are also investigating which channels can be revived by compiling with government rules.

Distributors and cable operators suspended the broadcast of foreign TV channels on Friday following a government directive that only foreign channels that air ‘clean feeds’ – without advertisements – can be shown in Bangladesh.

In early September, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud announced that foreign channels that fail to comply with the clean feed policy would not be allowed to broadcast in the country after Sept 30.

The minister warned that the law would be enforced countrywide otherwise.

Mahmud mentioned that mobile courts would be deployed across the country on the final day of the deadline to ensure everyone follows the directive.

“We, the cable operators, stopped airing the foreign channels as it is not possible for us to cut out the commercials if the channel authorities do not provide them with clean feeds,” said Parvez.

“More than 500,000 people are involved in the cable operating sector. The industry is nearing an end as all these channels are being aired on other platforms, including OTT. If the broadcasting is transferred to another sector, the operators will be left with nothing,” he added.

“We can keep the industry alive if the government is considerate. We want a level playing field for everyone. If cable operators can’t air foreign channels but others can, it would be discrimination,” he further said.