Cable TV Show Begins in City
'Satellite channels have brought changes to people's life'
Staff Correspondent
Satellite television channels have brought changes to the people's life, and as such further investment should be encouraged in this sector, business leaders said at the inaugural ceremony of the Cable TV Show-2007 yesterday. They also criticized the Indian cable operators for not transmitting Bangladeshi satellite television channels for their audiences. "As the Indian cable operators are not transmitting programmes of Bangladeshi satellite channels on some filmsy excuses, we have to decide on banning Indian channels," said Mir Nasir Hossain, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), as the chief guest. Cable Operators' Association of Bangladesh (COAB) organised the three-day show at Basundhara City Shopping Mall with a view to promoting their activities and having an interaction among the satellite audiences, cable operators and satellite channel authorities. The FBCCI president said that in this era of free market economy, there should not be any double standard regarding business and trade. It is very disappointing that despite having a common language, programmes of our channels are not shown in Kolkata, he added. Nasir also assured the audience that the FBCCI would take necessary steps so that the government declares this sector as an industry. While talking about the restriction of Bangladeshi channels in India, a spokesman for the Indian cable TV sector said programmes of Bangladeshi channels are not shown in India due to lack of proper marketing policies. "Moreover, Indian audiences are not aware of such enjoyable programmes of Bangladeshi channels," said Binod Sancheti, president of Indian Cable TV Equipment Traders and Manufacturers Association (CTMA). The major Indian channels have offices and marketing policies here while Bangladeshi channels have no such activities there, said Sancheti while talking to The Daily Star. Mohammad Ali, first vice-president of FBCCI, SM Anwar Parvez, president of COAB, and its Secretary General Nizam Uddin Masud also spoke on the occasion. A total of 33 organisations, including representatives of satellite channels, cable operators and cable equipment traders from home and abroad are displaying their services and products at the show. The show is open for all from 10:00am to 7:00pm daily. Local satellite channels like ATN Bangla, Channel i, Rtv, ETV, Bangla Vision, Boishakhi, S tv, and foreign channels including Al-Jazeera, ESPN Star Sports and Star India Pvt Ltd are taking part in the show.
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