New channels offer nothing new
The news TV channels have failed to catch viewer attention
The new TV channel Mohona has been running its test transmission since last week. This is one of the 10 news channels issued licences by the present government. ATN News and My TV have already begun full-fledged transmission. ATN News is a 24-hour news channel while My TV is more of an entertainment channel with newscasts every hour.
So now there are a total of 12 private TV channels in the country. However, surveys show that none of these are particularly popular. The lackluster, unimaginative and run-of-the-mill programmes are hardly offering any attraction. Experts say that the new TV channels need to break out of the conventional mould and give the viewer something new and exciting.
Mohona is offering nothing new to the viewers. Its test transmission has made no waves. There is a lack of enthusiasm within the channel itself, it appears and this naturally comes across to those watching the programmes. Many are not even aware that the test transmission is on.
Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Chairman of Mohona and an Awami League MP from Mirpur, tells PROBE, "Mohona basically is an entertainment channel, but it has news broadcasts every hour. The channel will begin official transmission in September."
He informs PROBE that the channel operates from his own building in Mirpur-11 and that the programmes can be watched not only in Bangladesh country, but also the US, UK, Pakistan and the Middle East.
However, Mohona's transmission is hardly seen anywhere even in Dhaka, let alone overseas. Those who have seen it are disappointed. Says one such viewer in Rayer Bazar, "All they show is one Bengali movie after another. You can't run a channel like that." In this regard Kamal Ahmed Majumder says, "This is just a test transmission so naturally we aren't all that organized as yet."
However, it is the same with My TV. Most of the time they simply screen local films. As a deviation, they have 'Orchestra', a programme of Bengali cinema songs. The channel's manager Masud Azizi says, "Our surveys indicate that the viewers mostly want to watch Bengali cinema. This is particularly true in the case of small town mofussil viewers."
When asked if they then intended to continue showing Bengali movies most of the time, he hastily amended himself, "No, no, not at all. We will definitively introduce more programmes to attract more viewers. We are still planning this, but it will take time to come up with fresh programmes to increase our popularity."
The channel's other programmes include 'Amar Sukh, Amar Dukh', 'Charpattir Adda', 'Olosh Dupur', 'Ekhoni Shomoy', 'Turning Point' and the news.
My TV has been airing old plays and cinema since 1996. Later, when the present government came to power, it obtained a full-fledged TV licence and from April 15 began test transmission. In June it began official transmission. Its offices are at 55 CR Dutta Road, Bangla Motors.
Next comes 'Shomoy'. This channel intends to be a 24-hour news channel. It belongs to film director Murshedul Islam, brother of the incumbent State Minister for Law Kamrul Islam. It operates from Nasir Tower on Sonargaon Road. Interior designing is on at the office presently and they plan to begin test transmission from the end of this year. It aims at official transmission from February 2011. They do not have any significant set-up at the moment, just a few apprentice reporters who are undergoing training.
Ahmed Jobaer is the Managing Director of the channel. He is an experienced and skilled journalist and had worked for ATN Bangla previously. His last job had been at the 24-hour news channel CSB. He says, "There is not too much to say about our channel's future plans, other than it will be an exclusively news and current affairs channel. We are building a team of new and old professionals. We are placing stress on the training of our news staff and will use the services of reputed international institutions for this purpose. We hope to be able to give our viewers quality programmes."
Channel Ekattur and Independent are also to be 24-hour news channels. In July Independent advertised for reports, news editors, news producers, and other posts. Its office is at Plot 19, Road 35, Gulshan 2.
Channel Ekattur has not progressed towards transmission. It will set up office in Tejgaon, but for the time being it is using the office of Mozammel Babu's computer firm. Mozammel Babu is running the channel and along with him is news presenter and film director Samia Zaman. As to whether they have appointed any Head of News as yet, Mozammel Babu responds, "I am not like the owner of any other TV channel. I myself am a journalist. I understand what I am doing. I do not foresee any problem."
He goes on to say, "The TV channels which were given licences by February 6, 2010 must definitely start transmission by February 7, 2011 or else their licences will be cancelled. So our target naturally is to go on air before the deadline. We hope to start even sooner."
There is not much progress in the two other newly licenced channels – Channel 9 which belongs to Mahbooba Akhter, whose husband Brig. (retd.) Syed Shafayat Islam is the brother of Awami League's General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam; and Gazi TV of Golam Dastagir Gazi, proprietor of Gazi Tanks and Awami League MP. Similarly there is no programme in Bijoy TV, belonging to Awami League leader and former Chittagong Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury. The caretaker government had shut it down for unlawfully going on air. The present government has granted it permission, but it has not made any move ahead as yet. It has its offices in Chittagong, but plans to open up in Dhaka as well.
Among the news channels, ATN News is transmitting news round the clock. It began test transmission from May 1 and official transmission from June 7. It carries news and news-based programmes, talk shows and documentaries. Manzurul Islam is the channels CEO and Chief Editor. Munni Saha is Head of News. Others in the news section are Nadeem Quader, Bayzid Milky, Probhash Amin and Pranab Saha. Pranab Saha was previously Chief Reporter of ATN Bangla. He would often say that the channel will prove to be a success when no one phones up the newsroom for news anymore, but simply switches to the channel in the knowledge that the news will definitely be there. Has ATN Bangla achieved this degree of success? Munni Saha says, "We have a lot of plans and programmes to make this channel extremely popular. But we are unable to execute those plans and programme due to the lack of technical support."
Lack of enthusiasm
There is a surfeit of local TV channels but none seems to be able to grab the viewers fancy. M Hamid, TV personality and Managing Director of RTV, says "There was a time when BTV was very popular. People would like certain programmes and would wait for them at particular times. They would remember the programmes. Those who worked for BTV then were talented and creative. They were involved in art and culture, in literature. There is a lack of such people nowadays. That is why the viewers are losing interest."
He says, "The private TV channels are plodding along in a very mundane manner. All the channels have the same fare – plays, talk shows, music shows and news. The viewers are totally confused. They have no idea which channel is screening what and at which time. The programmes are hardly worth remembering. A TV channel has to grow a certain unique character to stand out from the rest. It has to be specialized. One cannot survive with these ordinary routine programmes."
News quality questioned
All the TV channels have newscasts, except Islamic TV. ATN is the only 24-hour news channel so far. The rest air news every hour. Among the new channels coming up, all will have news programmes, except Maasranga. Concerning the quality of news in this channels, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Chief Editor of Manabjamin, says, "One can't discourage the TV channels which have news programmes, but it is simply not enough to have newscasts every hour. A certain standard has to be maintained. There are so many channels, but a dearth of efficient and skilled persons. They should first build up the skill or their personnel and for this there is no alternative to training. Plus, they must ensure news devoid of political influence. This can only be possible if those who run the channels and manage the news are conscious."
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