Wikipedia

BTV Chittagong

Bangladesh Television Chattogram or Bangladesh Television Chittagong,[a] branded on-air as BTV Chittagong or BTV Chattogram,[b] sometimes known as CTV,[c][3] is a BTV-affiliated television station broadcast from Chittagong, serving southeastern Bangladesh. It is the network's first and currently the only regional television station. It was launched in 1996 and initially broadcast for one and a half hours, but the broadcast schedule significantly increased over time. It broadcasts on a full-day basis daily on both terrestrial and satellite television.[4]

Bangladesh Television Chattogram
বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশন চট্টগ্রাম
Logo of Bangladesh Television Chattogram
CountryBangladesh
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersPahartali, Chittagong[1]
Programming
Language(s)Bengali
Chittagonian
Ownership
OwnerGovernment of Bangladesh
ParentBangladesh Television
Key peopleNur Anwar Hossain Ranju (General Manager)
Sister channels
History
Launched
  • June 1976; 48 years ago (1976-06) (relay)
  • 19 December 1996; 27 years ago (1996-12-19) (regional)
Links
Websitebtv.gov.bd
Availability
Terrestrial
Analog terrestrialVHF channel 5[2]
Digital terrestrialVHF channel 9[2]

BTV Chittagong started broadcasting on satellite television in 2016.[4] It is also a nationwide terrestrial television station along with BTV Dhaka and Sangsad Television, as it reaches 75% of the area of Bangladesh terrestrially.[5][6][7] It is one of the five BTV-affiliated television stations serving the Chittagong Division, with the others being broadcast from Comilla, Noakhali, Rangamati, and Ukhia, all of which are relay television stations.[8]

History

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1968–1996: Original plans and relay station

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Originally, before the independence of Bangladesh and after the inauguration of the second television station of Pakistan Television in Dacca on 25 December 1964, there were initial plans to establish a television station in Chittagong. The station would have operated on VHF channel 5 using an ERP of 30 kilowatts and went on air by December 1968, the same time as the proposed station in Peshawar.[9] The proposed station was later downgraded to a relay one, supposed to broadcast using 10 kilowatts, and its launch date was delayed to June 1970. Stations in Khulna and Rajshahi were also planned.[10] This was delayed again to the end of 1975, a while after the independence of Bangladesh.[11] Prior to the establishment of the full-fledged BTV Chittagong television station, a relay station of BTV Dhaka was inaugurated in Chittagong in June 1976, broadcasting on VHF channel 5 using a 10-kilowatt transmitter, although its ERP was 80 kilowatts.[12] As of August 1989, BTV Chittagong broadcast with an upgraded 15 kilowatt transmitter.[13]

1996–2016: Initial broadcasts

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On 19 December 1996, Sheikh Hasina, former prime minister of Bangladesh, inaugurated the first regional television station of Bangladesh Television in Chittagong, with financial and technical support from the Government of France.[14] It only broadcast for one and a half hour at the time, within a 40 km limit via terrestrial television.[15] BTV Chittagong was operated via a syndicate and had acquired programs, which were subsequently broadcast on the station. It was also reported that the same artists have constantly been shown on the station.[16] Celebrities have urged the station's authorities to increase its daily schedule to properly showcase the culture, heritage, and the history of the Chittagong region.[17] The authorities of BTV Chittagong were also accused of mismanagement, leading the station to be in disarray.[18] The station's broadcast timing was later extended to two hours a day, and later to three hours.[15][19]

In January 2009, BTV Chittagong filed a general diary against Ekushey Television for illegally using terrestrial signals for broadcasting in Chittagong, even after the government of Bangladesh ruled that only Bangladesh Television-affiliated stations could broadcast on terrestrial television in Bangladesh. Local police in the city later shut the terrestrial broadcasts on 6 January.[20] Experimental broadcasts on digital terrestrial television from Chittagong commenced on 25 January 2011.[8] Discussions for increasing BTV Chittagong's broadcast schedule took place in 2013, as an objective for the station to broadcast for twenty-four hours.[21] For this, a project costing BDT 440 million had to be initiated.[19]

2016–present: Satellite era

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On 28 September 2016, BTV Chittagong began experimental broadcasts via satellite television on a four-hour basis.[15] It was later extended to six hours on 31 December 2016.[22] This transmission was also broadcast to 60 countries worldwide. BTV Chittagong also debuted on cable television.[23] On 13 April 2019, BTV Chittagong began broadcasting for nine hours on a daily basis and also commenced transmissions via the Bangabandhu-1 satellite on 1 July 2019.[24][25] Its broadcast time was later extended to twelve hours in December 2019.[5]

In September 2020, a 133.5 metres (438 ft) tall tower of BTV Chittagong was built. Twelve satellite and cable channels and two terrestrial channels can be operated using the tower, and on 3 September, the transmissions of BTV Chittagong, BTV Dhaka, Sangsad Television, and BTV World commenced using the tower.[26] On 19 December 2020, BTV Chittagong began airing English-language news programming.[25]

On 10 January 2021, BTV Chittagong commenced transmissions for eighteen hours, which is identical to the broadcast timing of BTV Dhaka.[25][27] In May 2021, BTV Chittagong was made available for streaming worldwide in the newly launched BTV app.[28] On 17 June 2021, BTV Chittagong broadcast its first national debate.[29] On 7 August 2021, the station broadcast live from its studios for the first time.[30] On 19 December 2021, on its 25th anniversary, the station began broadcasting on a full day basis.[7][26][31]

On 29 January 2022, BTV Chittagong's former controller and program manager, Mahfuza Akhter, was appointed as BTV Chittagong's new general manager, replacing Nitai Kumar Bhattacharya.[32][33] On the same day, a Bangabandhu Corner dedicated to the founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was inaugurated at the headquarters of BTV Chittagong.[34] In observance of Eid al-Fitr 2022, the station broadcast the self-produced Anandamela.[35]

In May 2022, the Government of Bangladesh ordered the broadcast of BTV Chittagong, along with its sisters, in airports across the country.[36] On 12 January 2023, Mahfuza Akhter resigned from her position and is succeeded by Nur Anwar Hossain Ranju.[37] In September 2024, a month after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, Nur Anwar Hossain was accused of alleged irregularities and corruption within the Chittagong station, as well as looting of money.[38][39]

Programming

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Main article: List of programmes broadcast by Bangladesh Television

BTV Chittagong broadcasts local programming, and also programming dedicated to the Indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.[22] Its programming line primarily consists of news, music, entertainment, and talk shows. It also plays an important role in promoting the culture of the Chittagong region and developing its tourism sector.[26][40] BTV Chittagong also reserves one hour of its schedule to news programming from the main station in Dhaka.[41]

List of original programming

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Broadcast time changes

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Year Timings
1996 One and a half hour
As of 2008 17:30–19:15 (One hour and forty-five minutes)[45]
September 2016 Four hours
December 2016 17:00–23:00 (Six hours)[46]
April 2019 Nine hours
December 2019 Twelve hours
January 2021 Eighteen hours
December 2021 Twenty-four hours

Notes

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  1. ^ Bengali: বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশন চট্টগ্রাম, romanized: Bāṅlādēś Ṭēlibhiśôn Chôṭṭôgrām
  2. ^ Bengali: বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম, romanized: BTV Chôṭṭôgrām
  3. ^ Bengali: সিটিভি

References

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  1. ^ টেরেস্ট্রিয়াল সম্প্রচারের প্রকল্পে ধীরগতি. Sharebiz (in Bengali). 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Short Brief of Technical Profile of BTV" (PDF). Bangladesh Television. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  3. ^ সিটিভি ৬ ঘণ্টা সম্প্রচারে যাক চায় না দালাল সিন্ডিকেট. BanglaNews24 (in Bengali). 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b Shihab Sarkar (5 January 2017). "BTV Chittagong: Case for local TVs". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Information minister: Chittagong BTV to be 2nd independent national television". Dhaka Tribune. 13 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  6. ^ ৫৮তম বর্ষে এইচডি সম্প্রচারে বিটিভি. Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 25 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  7. ^ a b বিটিভির চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রের ২৪ ঘণ্টা সম্প্রচার শুরু. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. ^ a b "BTV At a Glance". Bangladesh Television. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1968–69. p. 947. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1970–71. p. 1055. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1976. p. 1071. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1981–82. p. 1189. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Television Factbook" (PDF). 1990. p. 409. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  14. ^ বিটিভির দর্শক, আয় কমছে, ঋণ করে চ্যানেল বাড়াচ্ছে. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  15. ^ a b c "BTV Ctg centre starts test transmission". The Daily Star. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  16. ^ বিটিভি’র চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রের কষ্টের কথা শুনলেন তথ্যমন্ত্রী. BanglaNews24 (in Bengali). 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
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  29. ^ বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রে প্রথম জাতীয় বিতর্ক প্রতিযোগিতা. Dainik Azadi (in Bengali). 17 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  30. ^ সরাসরি সম্প্রচারের যুগে বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্র. Samakal (in Bengali). 8 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
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  32. ^ মাহফুজা আক্তার বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রের নতুন জেনারেল ম্যানেজার. Dainik Azadi (in Bengali). 29 January 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  33. ^ বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রের রজতজয়ন্তীর নানা আয়োজন. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  34. ^ তথ্যমন্ত্রী: বিটিভির অধীনে হবে আরও একটি চ্যানেল. Dhaka Tribune (in Bengali). 29 January 2022. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  35. ^ বিটিভির চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রও তৈরি করেছে আনন্দমেলা. Jugantor (in Bengali). 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  36. ^ দেশের সব বিমানবন্দরে বিটিভি দেখানোর নির্দেশ. Samakal (in Bengali). 15 May 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  37. ^ Rauf, Rashed (6 June 2023). বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশন চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্র: বিশিষ্টজনদের অংশগ্রহণ বাড়ুক. Dainik Azadi (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  38. ^ নানা অনিয়মের অভিযোগ বিটিভির চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রের জিএমের বিরুদ্ধে. Desh TV (in Bengali). 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  39. ^ a b c Nasir Uddin Haider (16 September 2024). লুটপাটের অবাধ ক্ষেত্র বিটিভির চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্র. Samakal (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  40. ^ "BTV Chattogram Centre starts airing 24-hour programme". The Financial Express. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  41. ^ বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্র সমীপে. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 20 June 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রে ৫ দিনব্যাপী ঈদ আয়োজন. Dainik Azadi (in Bengali). 12 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  43. ^ বিটিভি চট্টগ্রাম কেন্দ্রে 'এ সপ্তাহের সংস্কৃতি'. Dainik Azadi (in Bengali). 4 August 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
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  45. ^ "Transmission Timing". Bangladesh Television. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
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