Bangladeshi television programs in different satellites
Dr F A Talukder, Oman
To meet the needs of overseas Bangladeshi viewers, the Bangladeshi television channels (government and private) are telecasting Bangla programmes over satellites. There is no question that we, the Bangladeshis living all over the world, are benefited due to this kind of satellite telecasting of the Bangla TV channels. However, the TV channels should also consider whether their goal of reaching large sections of overseas Bangladeshi viewers has been achieved or not. There are three major Bangladeshi TV channels in satellites, which are ATN Bangla, Channel-I and ntv . Moreover, the BTV is going to start telecasting their programmes through the satellite . The main problem is all the TV channels (4 including the BTV) are using different satellites. The current positions of all 4 satellite channels are as follows: Channel-I- PanamSat 4, ATN Bangla -Thaicom, ntv-ApStar, and the BTV will use AsiaSat 3. Now, the problem is a difficult one for the viewers, but can easily be solved by the TV channels. Normally, a person or family own 1 (or rarely 2) dish antennas (normally one for Ku band and one for C band). As all current Bangladeshi TV programmes are in "C" band, therefore, a person or a family can adjust their "C" band dish antenna only toward one satellite (to PanamSat 4, Thaicom, ApStar or AsiaSat 3). Moreover, almost all dish antennas are a fixed system, i.e. if it is set for one satellite, it cannot be moved or re-aligned to another satellite without help of a technician. Therefore, once a family set their dish antenna toward a certain satellite, it will be set for programmes only from that satellite. I hope the Bangladeshi TV channel authorities will understand that once a family set their dish antenna toward a satellite, they will be reluctant to change or re-align the dish antenna toward another satellite, until it is extremely necessary. Just for example, when we bought our dish antenna (for "C" band) two years ago, the technician set it toward the Thaicom satellite. We could use it to see only the ATN Bangla (also "Tara Bangla" channel from India) along with other foreign channels. However, after 8-9 months, we summoned the technician for re-aligning our dish antenna toward the PanamSat 4, so that we could watch the Channel-I. For the realignment of the dish, we had to pay the technician. However, due to re-alignment from Thaicom satellite to PanamSat 4, we can't see the ATN Bangla any more. So, we had to sacrifice two Bangla channels for Channel-I. Recently, the ntv came into operation into a different satellite, namely ApStar. Unfortunately, we cannot watch it, until we call the technician again and sacrifice the Channel-I programmes. So, we preferred to stay tuned with PanamSat 4, rather than going to pay the technician again to re-align the dish for ApStar (ntv channel). Bangladesh TV (BTV) has started their trial broadcasting through AisaSat 3 satellite. We are very eager to see the BTV programmes, but can't do so for the same technical reason. We need to call the technician again and pay him for re-alignment toward AsiaSat 3, if we want to see the BTV satellite broadcast. I am sure that most of the overseas families will decide the same way not to go for re-alignment of the dish again and again and pay the technician every time a new Bangla channel starts telecasting through a new satellite. However, it is a very simple problem that could be solved by the television channels easily. If all the Bangladeshi TV channels broadcast their programmes from the same satellite, then with only one dish alignment, overseas Bangladeshis can see all the channels and can choose and enjoy their favourite programmes. The system can be followed by most of the European, American and even the Middle East TV channels. I would request the television channels in Bangladesh to consider my point.
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