‘Air foreign channels free of ads’

Staff Correspondent: Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud urged cable operators to stop advertisements on foreign television channels and apply digital method in airing foreign channels.

The information minister came up with the direction while speaking at a meeting of Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) in the conference room of the Information Ministry here on Thursday.

Additional secretaries to the information ministry Mohammad Azharul Haque and Mizan-ul-Alam were present at the meeting.

“Cable operators have an important role in stopping advertisements on foreign television channels… As per the existing law of the country, advertisements would not be aired in foreign television channels,” Hasan said.

Hasan said, “We have discussed with Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) to prepare a list of private television channels as per getting serial of licenses. Cable operators must follow the list for airing TV channels.”

“Digitization has become visible in all spheres of the society. But cable networks are not digitized. Digitization of cable network is urgent for the development of broadcasting sector,” the information minister added.

There are 6,000 cable operators in the country, he said adding, they (cable operators) have vital role in airing both local and foreign channels.

Hasan said the government has already taken necessary initiatives to stop airing advertisements in foreign television channels. He said, “We have served notice to two organizations about using downlink for airing advertisements in foreign television channels. They have replied seeking 15 days for informing us in detail.”

The two distributing organization must abide by the law to run their businesses, he said, adding legal actions will be taken, if they violate the law.

Hasan, also the publicity and publication secretary of the ruling Awami League, said the government has given around 44 licenses for private TV channels. Of those, around 33 channels are now running, he added.

There are legal restrictions in some countries including the UK, India and Pakistan as well as in European continent on airing foreign advertisements, he said, adding if any television in the UK airs foreign advisement, it must pay taxes and fulfill conditions of their laws.

Members and leaders of Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh, among others, were present at the meeting.


risingbd/Dhaka/April 11, 2019/Asad/AI