Bangla TV
A Bengali-language television channel founded in the United Kingdom for Bengali-speaking audiences, now primarily available in Bangladesh.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Bangla TV is a Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel associated with the Bangladeshi diaspora and Bengali-speaking audiences. It was founded in London in 1998 by Britain-based entrepreneur Feroze Khan, initially with the aim of providing news, current affairs, and other programming relevant to British Bangladeshis and Bangladeshis living elsewhere in Europe. The channel began transmissions on 16 December 1998 and was formally launched on 16 September 1999, later joining the Sky UK electronic programme guide in November of that year. In its early British operation, Bangla TV served a community-media role. Its programming was designed to connect viewers in the United Kingdom and Europe with Bangladesh-related news, local diaspora affairs, entertainment, and cultural content. In January 2000, the channel entered an agreement with United News of Bangladesh to obtain local and international news material. This helped support its news-oriented offering while allowing the station to operate as a specialist Bengali-language service rather than as a general-interest British broadcaster. Bangla TV originally operated as a subscription channel. That model changed in 2005 after the arrival of rival Channel S, which adopted a free-to-air approach. Bangla TV subsequently moved to a non-subscription model, making its programming available without a subscription charge and competing more directly for audiences and advertising within the British Bangladeshi media market. The channel’s United Kingdom distribution became increasingly unstable during the 2010s. It was temporarily removed from the Sky channel 786 position in July 2010, restored shortly afterward, and removed again later that year. A further return to the Sky electronic programme guide took place in June 2011 under new management. Additional removals occurred during late 2013 and early 2014, followed by a return in February 2014. The channel was removed again in August 2014 and experienced intermittent transmission over the following years. Bangla TV ultimately ceased United Kingdom transmissions on 2 November 2017 and did not return to the UK Sky platform. At the same time, Bangla TV expanded its formal presence in Bangladesh. It obtained a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission licence in November 2013 and received a frequency allocation in January 2015. The channel began broadcasting in Bangladesh on 19 May 2017. After ending its UK transmissions later that year, its distribution became focused on Bangladesh rather than on its original European audience. In May 2019, Bangla TV and six other channels began broadcasting through the Bangabandhu-1 satellite following an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited. Bangla TV has also participated in public-interest broadcasting. In July 2017, it joined four other Bangladeshi television channels in an agreement with UNICEF to air a one-minute children’s programme. This reflected the channel’s role within Bangladesh’s television ecosystem in addition to its earlier identity as a diaspora-oriented British Bengali service. Publicly available reference material does not establish its current ownership, corporate structure, leadership roster, financial performance, or detailed present-day schedule. Its documented trajectory is that of a London-founded Bengali community channel that later shifted its principal distribution and market focus to Bangladesh.
History
Bangla TV was established in London in 1998 by Feroze Khan as a Bengali-language service for British Bangladeshis and Bengali-speaking communities across Europe. It began transmissions on 16 December 1998 and received a formal launch on 16 September 1999. The channel was added to Sky UK in November 1999, giving it a significant distribution route among satellite viewers in the United Kingdom. The station initially concentrated on news and affairs concerning Bangladeshis in Britain and Europe, alongside Bengali entertainment and cultural programming. In January 2000, it agreed to obtain local and international news content from United News of Bangladesh. Bangla TV operated as a subscription-only channel until 2005. The launch of free-to-air rival Channel S encouraged a change in strategy, and Bangla TV adopted a non-subscription model to make its programming available without a paid subscription. Distribution through Sky became problematic during the next decade. Bangla TV was removed from Sky channel 786 in July 2010 and later restored, then removed again in December 2010. It returned to the electronic programme guide in June 2011 under new management after the channel had been found in serious breach of Ofcom rules. Further removals occurred in December 2013 and January 2014, although the channel returned in February 2014. It was removed again in August 2014 and experienced intermittent transmission for several years. While its United Kingdom distribution was weakening, Bangla TV pursued authorisation to operate in Bangladesh. It obtained a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission licence in November 2013 and received a frequency allocation in January 2015. Regular broadcasting in Bangladesh began on 19 May 2017. In July of that year, the channel joined a UNICEF initiative with four other Bangladeshi stations to air a one-minute children's programme. Bangla TV ended its United Kingdom transmissions on 2 November 2017 and has since been documented as available in Bangladesh rather than on the UK platform. On 19 May 2019, it joined six other television channels in beginning distribution via the Bangabandhu-1 satellite under an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited. Available reference material does not identify a current owner, parent company, chief executive, financial profile, or detailed current schedule.
- 2019
Bangabandhu-1 satellite distribution begins
[1]Bangla TV joins other Bangladeshi channels on Bangabandhu-1 under an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited.
- 2017
Bangladeshi service begins
[1]Bangla TV officially begins broadcasting in Bangladesh on 19 May.
- 2017
United Kingdom service ends
[1]The channel is removed from United Kingdom distribution on 2 November after years of intermittent Sky availability.
- 2015
Frequency allocation in Bangladesh
[1]The channel receives a frequency allocation supporting its planned Bangladeshi transmission service.
- 2013
Bangladesh broadcasting licence granted
[1]Bangla TV receives a licence from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
- 2005
Conversion to a non-subscription model
[1]The channel changes from subscription-only access to a free-access model following competition from Channel S.
- 2000
News partnership with United News of Bangladesh
[1]Bangla TV agrees to receive local and international news material from United News of Bangladesh.
- 1999
Formal launch and Sky UK distribution
[1]The channel is formally launched in September and added to Sky UK in November.
- 1998
Bangla TV is founded in London
[1]Feroze Khan establishes the Bengali-language channel to serve British Bangladeshis and Bengali-speaking audiences in Europe.
Products and positioning
Bengali-language community and general-interest television serving Bangladeshi and Bengali-speaking audiences, initially in the United Kingdom and Europe and later primarily in Bangladesh.
Television programming · 1998
Bengali news and current affairs
News and public-affairs programming focused on Bangladesh, British Bangladeshis, Bengali-speaking communities, and international developments. The channel’s 2000 agreement with United News of Bangladesh supported its supply of local and international news content.
Television programming · 1998
Bengali entertainment programming
General entertainment and cultural programming in Bengali formed part of Bangla TV’s offer to diaspora and domestic viewers. The programming helped position the channel as a community-oriented service rather than solely a news outlet.
Public-interest television · 2017
Children's programming
Bangla TV participated in a UNICEF-supported initiative in 2017 that involved airing a one-minute children's programme alongside other Bangladeshi television channels.
Broadcast distribution · 1999
Satellite television distribution
The channel was distributed through Sky UK during its British period and later began satellite distribution through Bangabandhu-1 in Bangladesh in 2019. Its UK distribution ended in 2017.
Controversies
2010
Ofcom rules breach and Sky removals
During a period of repeated removals from the Sky UK electronic programme guide, Bangla TV was found to be in serious breach of Ofcom rules. It later returned to the platform in June 2011 under new management. The cited reference does not specify the precise rule violations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017UNICEF children's programming initiative
Bangladesh
Bangla TV joined four other Bangladeshi television channels in an agreement with UNICEF to broadcast a one-minute children's programme.
Outcome. The initiative added a documented public-interest and child-focused programming commitment to the channel's Bangladeshi operations.
Brand decisions
2019
Adoption of Bangabandhu-1 satellite distributionOtherBackground
Bangla TV was operating primarily in Bangladesh after the end of its UK transmissions.
Action taken
The channel signed an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited and began broadcasting through the Bangabandhu-1 satellite with six other channels.
Aftermath
The agreement provided a documented satellite-distribution route within Bangladesh.
2017
End of United Kingdom transmissionsOtherBackground
The channel had experienced repeated removals and intermittent availability on Sky UK over several years.
Action taken
Bangla TV ceased transmissions in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2017.
Aftermath
The channel was subsequently documented as available in Bangladesh rather than on the UK platform.
2013
Expansion into BangladeshStrategyBackground
After beginning as a London-based diaspora channel, Bangla TV sought regulatory approval to broadcast in Bangladesh.
Action taken
The channel obtained a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission licence and later secured a frequency allocation.
Aftermath
Bangla TV began official transmissions in Bangladesh in May 2017 and eventually made Bangladesh its primary documented market after ending UK transmissions.
2005
Move from subscription to free accessStrategyBackground
Bangla TV had operated as a subscription-only service, while rival Channel S entered the market with a free-to-air model.
Action taken
The channel changed to a non-subscription model so viewers could access its programming without a subscription charge.
Aftermath
The change placed Bangla TV in more direct competition for audiences and advertising within the British Bangladeshi television market.
Recent events
- 2019
Bangla TV begins distribution through Bangabandhu-1[1]
Product launch · Other
Bangla TV and six other channels began satellite distribution through Bangabandhu-1 after an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited.
- 2017
Bangla TV starts broadcasting in Bangladesh[1]
Product launch · Regulation
After receiving a frequency allocation in 2015, Bangla TV officially began transmissions in Bangladesh on 19 May 2017.
- 2017
Bangla TV joins UNICEF children's programming initiative[1]
Campaign
Bangla TV joined four other Bangladeshi television channels in an agreement with UNICEF to broadcast a one-minute children's programme.
- 2017
Bangla TV ends United Kingdom transmissions[1]
Other
After repeated interruptions and removals from the Sky platform, Bangla TV ceased broadcasting in the United Kingdom on 2 November and subsequently focused on Bangladesh.
- 2013
Bangla TV receives Bangladeshi broadcasting licence[1]
Regulation
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission granted Bangla TV a licence to broadcast in Bangladesh.
- 2010
Bangla TV is temporarily removed from the Sky UK platform[1]
Other
The channel was removed from Sky channel 786 in July and later restored. It was removed again during December, with the reasons for the initial removal not publicly explained in the cited account.
- 2005
Bangla TV moves from subscription to free access[1]
Pricing
Following the arrival of free-to-air competitor Channel S, Bangla TV abandoned its subscription-only model and made its programming available without a subscription charge.
- 2000
Bangla TV signs news-content agreement with United News of Bangladesh[1]
Other
The channel entered an agreement to receive local and international news material, strengthening its news and current-affairs output.
- 1999
Bangla TV begins regular service after its 1998 start[1]
Product launch
The London-based Bengali-language channel was formally launched in September 1999 and was subsequently added to the Sky UK platform.
Sources2 sources
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