Draft:List of television stations in Bangladesh

Television broadcasting in Bangladesh comprises the state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV), which pioneered the medium in the country (East Pakistan) during 1965 as the exclusive terrestrial broadcaster, alongside a rapidly expanding collection of private satellite channels sanctioned by governmental authorities. According to official records as of October 2025, regulatory bodies have granted licences to 50 private television channels, with 36 currently operational and broadcasting content, while BTV's national and regional outlets continue to maintain monopoly control over free-to-air over-the-air transmissions. This substantial expansion, catalysed by policy reforms facilitating private sector participation in the late 1990s, has stimulated competitive programming across news, entertainment, and cultural sectors, primarily produced in Bengali language, against a backdrop of household television penetration exceeding 67 percent. Prominent private broadcasters commanding significant viewership include Channel i, ATN Bangla, and NTV, which operate alongside BTV's public service obligations.

History

Origins and State Monopoly (1964-1990s)

The region's television broadcasting commenced experimentally on 25 December 1964 in Dhaka (then Dacca), functioning as the East Pakistan relay station for the Pakistan Television Corporation and initially transmitting black-and-white material including a musical performance by singer Ferdousi Rahman. This pioneering transmission, accessible exclusively within a restricted urban perimeter due to analog terrestrial VHF technology and insufficient transmission infrastructure, constituted the sole television service in East Pakistan, with programming predominantly comprising educational and cultural segments subject to stringent governmental oversight. Regular broadcasting commenced in early 1965, reinforcing its position as the exclusive medium for mass communication despite infrastructural limitations including power shortages and scarce receiver ownership, which restricted access primarily to affluent households in Dhaka.

Following Bangladesh's Independence in December 1971, the broadcasting facility was redesignated as Bangladesh Television (BTV) on 6 March 1972, transitioning to complete national control while preserving its state monopoly status. On 9 February 1975, BTV relocated its operations to a specially constructed headquarters in Rampura, Dhaka, moving from interim facilities situated in the DIT building, thereby facilitating expanded studio production notwithstanding economic reconstruction challenges following the Liberation War, including equipment deficits and funding constraints. Coverage expansion during the 1970s depended on establishing relay stations in regional centers, yet terrestrial signal propagation difficulties—compounded by hilly topography, seasonal flooding, and rural electrification shortfalls—restricted population reach to approximately 10-20% by the late 1980s, with urban concentration perpetuating centralised political messaging.

BTV commenced color transmissions on 16 December 1980 through the programme Desher Gaan, introducing full-time color service as an early adopter within the Indian subcontinent, though widespread adoption was delayed due to prohibitive costs of color television sets (initially affordable to fewer than 5% of households) and unreliable electricity supply. This technological enhancement, administered by the Ministry of Information, prioritized state-approved content including national anthems and development communications, sustaining the broadcaster's monopoly through regulatory restrictions and absence of private licensing provisions until the 1990s. Throughout this era, BTV's programming emphasized government-aligned news coverage, agricultural education initiatives, and cultural presentations, with content selection reflecting authoritarian influences under successive regimes, operating without competitive pressures or independent journalism benchmarks.