Local adverts banned on Foreign TV channels

According to a recent circular issued by the Information Ministry locally-produced advertisements on foreign TV channels have been banned. In violation of this order, the distribution license can be canceled or suspended and imprisonment of two years under section 28.

The Information Ministry previously issued an order on December 29, last year, an injunction was placed as per the sub-section 13 of Section 19 of the Bangladesh Cable Television Network Act 2006. This order also banned  locally-produced advertisements on foreign TV channels.

But some local advertisements are being promoted on some foreign TV channels broadcast in Bangladeshi downlink, which is against this regulation.

Earlier, Information Minister DR Hasan Mahmud told the press at his Secretariat office that the government will take necessary measures against those involved in the promotion of domestic advertisements on foreign television channels.

Previously, a platform called the Media Unity had been campaigning against such “illegal usage” of the downlink – the transmission of a signal from a satellite to a receiving station.

According to the platform, this practice of downlink usage has been affecting the sustainability of Bangladeshi local private channels as well as the media industry of the country. 

Airing advertisements of local products on foreign channels had been hampering the revenue of the private television channels in our country, media stakeholders have been claiming.

Media Unity also speculated that money laundering is taking place in the name of advertisements.