BTV going HD today

State-run Bangladesh Television has stepped into the 58th year of its service today. On the occasion, the channel is formally going to broadcast in High Definition (HD) from Standard Definition (SD).

Marking the 57th founding anniversary of the channel, a photo exhibition titled ‘Rang Tulite Bangabandhu’ will be held at the Bangabandhu Corner in Dhaka Centre of BTV.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will attend the occasion as the chief guest while Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain will be the special guest.

The television channel commenced its transmission on the ground floor of the then DIT Bhaban in Dhaka on December 25 in 1964. It was later renamed Bangladesh Television and started its journey as a government-owned entity a year after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

On February 9, 1975, BTV moved to its headquarters in the capital’s Rampura. The channel began colour transmission in 1980.

With two main television stations in Dhaka and Chattogram, Bangladesh Television is relayed nationwide via its 17 relay stations.

On April 11, 2004, BTV started simulcasting worldwide through its satellite-based wing BTV World.

The Chattogram Centre of the state-run television increased its daily broadcasting duration to 24 hours from 18 hours, from December 19 this year, on the occasion of Silver Jubilee celebration of the TV centre.

Viewers also can watch four channels – BTV, BTV World, BTV Chattogram and Sangsad Bangladesh Television – through the ‘BTV App’ which was launched in May this year.