No more pvt TV, radio channels before passage of new law in Bangladesh. More private television and radio channels are unlikely to get permission to go on air until the Private Broadcast Media (Radio and Television) Bill 2004 is passed in parliament aiming to control the electronic media, official sources said. "Preparation of uniform guidelines has become urgent as the information ministry continues to receive applications for permission to run private radio and satellite television channels," said AMM Nasiruddin, information secretary.
Sources in the ministry said they have so far received around 30 applications for private satellite television channels and 15 for radio. The permission for satellite TV channels has been snagged in red tape for a long time after the government granted permission to seven channels --- Channel i, ATN Bangla, International Television (ntv), Inquilab Television (ITV), Universal Television (UTV), Jamuna Television (JTV), and Ekushey Televison (ETV). At present, ATN Bangla, Channel i and ntv are on air while ITV, UTV and JTV have failed to start telecast within 365 days of getting permission as per rule. ETV's contract was cancelled in line with a Supreme Court order. Two separate policy guidelines were prepared in 1998 for private radio and television channels but the government later decided to formulate a comprehensive policy to encourage competition and ensure professionalism in the electronic media. "We have already collected the policies and regulations of other Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) countries and a committee is working on the proposed regulations," the information secretary said. New radio or TV channels may get permission before the passage of the Bill if government decides to permit any on urgent basis, he said. Currently, Bangladesh has no law for private radio and television channels. The authorities use some acts including the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1885, the Telegraph Act, 1933 and Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Act, 2001, to allocate frequency for and oversee technological aspects of the channels. After the ETV scandal, the information ministry worked out a draft regulation aiming to give it a legal form. The draft was referred to the parliamentary standing committee on information ministry for further scrutiny. According to the draft, all private satellite channels would require licence, a provision that does not exist in the existing guidelines. It says the channels already on air -- ATN Bangla, Channel i and ntv -- would require fresh licences under the new law. The draft also proposes government permission for transfer of shares and licences, strict enforcement of Bangladesh Telecommunications Act 2001, suspension and cancellation of licences, investigation into violation of the law and punishment to the offenders under the criminal laws and fines of up to Tk 20 lakh. The draft law provides for compulsory licensing, a system for scrutiny of applications, issuance of first time licence for five years and renewal of licences. According to the draft, the government will invite applications from people interested in setting up radio and TV channels and a six-member committee headed by a chairman nominated by the government will issue the licence. Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission and directors general Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will nominate one each member and the government will nominate two under technically skilled person category. The committee will consider the financial and technical capability of the applicants, location of the stations and skills of the manpower. It will also examine whether the applicants have anti-state or anti-people roles or attitudes. Foreign nationals, firms not registered under Companies Act, registered companies with less than Tk 1 crore paid-up capital and people or companies defaulting on loans from government or private financial institutions will not be eligible to apply for the licence. According to the draft, broadcast of news, special programmes and advertisements by private channels will be controlled by the act. The programmes of national importance such as speeches, news broadcast by state-owned BTV and Betar and government handouts, must be aired or rerun by the channels for free. Violation of some provisions of the proposed law will be considered as criminal offence. For the first-time offence, offenders will be fined Tk 10 lakh and in default will have to serve a three-month jail term. Each offence after the first one will carry a fine of Tk 20 lakh and six months imprisonment, in default. Failures to pay any outstanding amount for a licence, transfer of more than 50 percent shares without permission and violation of any term will result in cancellation and suspension of licence, says a draft. The organisations so far applied for permission to run private satellite channels include Media One, Liberty Television, Dhaka TeleFilm, Telebangla, Bishal Multimedia, KTV, Bengal News, Janata Television, Daffodil Multimedia, Bishal Music, Bijoy Broadcasting Univision, Bangla Television, Maxel Multimedia, Development Media TV Channel, SAS World, TV Bangla, Bangladesh Channel USA, Nationwide Communication, Bangla TV London, Probashi Television Network, National Television, Baishakhi Television, Sonali Television, Gazi Satellite Network, and Movie Tone Media Communication. The entrepreneurs are from various professions --- they include industrialists, former vice chancellor, newspaper editor and expatriates. Many of them do not have strong economic background. "To establish a satellite television channel it needs about Tk 60 crore," said marketing manger of an existing satellite television channel. There is an allegation that some are lobbying with the ministers and influential persons in the government to get permission on priority basis. But the existing entrepreneurs think more channels may distort already crunched market unless the market itself gets bigger. Media experts are, however, optimistic to see more channels that would create more job opportunities, more competition, more exposure, and expand market as well. (Via The Daily Star) 73s, Swopan Chakroborty Kolkata, India ---[Start Commercial]--------------------- World Radio TV Handbook 2005 is coming out. 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