Broadcasting of two TV channels in the country has been stopped for non-payment of arrears in satellite transponder rent.
Bangabandhu Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) stopped broadcasting SA TV around 10:15 pm on Thursday. At the same time, Channel Nine was shut down as well.
BSCL Chairman, Shahjahan Mahmood confirmed the information at around 3pm on Friday saying that the transponder bills of two channels, SA TV and Channel Nine, which were aired through Bangabandhu Satellite-1, were in arrears. Due to this, the two channels have been put on a halt.
According to the BSCL authorities, the two TV channels were asked in a letter to pay the arrears. The channel authorities were informed in the letter that if the arrears were not paid by May 11, the channels would have to be shut down. The letters were given to all the TV channels that have outstanding bills.
Shahjahan Mahmood said that the initiative has been taken to resume broadcasting of SA TV after paying the bill. The channel is likely to be launched shortly. Channel Nine, however, will launch on Sunday.
He further said that the outstanding bill is surely not a very big amount. However, the channel authorities did not take cognizance of the demand for payment. The two channels were supposed to be closed down on May 11. Later it was postponed. Satellite authorities do not charge in advance for broadcasting. The money in question is an amount that is outstanding.
With the launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 (BS-1) on May 12, 2018, Bangladesh entered the elite club of satellites, as the 57th country in the world with the facility. This satellite facility cost Bangladesh 2 thousand 902 crore taka.
There are 35 government and private TV channels in the country. At present all the public and private TV channels of the country are broadcasting through BS-1.
