RTV
RTV is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite, cable, and digital television channel focused on entertainment, news, music, dramas, and infotainment.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
RTV is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language television channel owned by Bengal Media Corporation, a company that was previously known as National Television Limited. The channel is headquartered in Dhaka's BSEC Building in Kawran Bazar and operates as a mixed-format broadcaster rather than a narrowly specialized news, sports, or music service. Its schedule combines scripted dramas, film and entertainment programming, news, music, reality formats, infotainment, international acquisitions, and special events. RTV is also associated with digital extensions, including the RTV Plus video-on-demand service and online video distribution. The channel's origins date to an application for a broadcasting license submitted by Mosaddek Ali Falu in 2002. According to accounts attributed to Falu, the letter R in the channel's name refers to his daughter, Roza Ali. RTV began test transmissions on 1 December 2005 and formally launched on 26 December 2005 as a sister channel of NTV. Although Falu served as chairman, majority ownership at the launch stage was held by the Jubo Karmashangshan Society, commonly called Jubok. The ownership structure later changed, and RTV was sold to Bengal Media Corporation in 2007 during a period that also included controversy and allegations about the role of a state intelligence agency in the transfer. Those allegations are reported as claims rather than established facts. RTV's early operating history was affected by fires at the BSEC Building. A fire in February 2007 temporarily interrupted RTV and related channels after causing extensive injuries. Another fire in October 2014 again took RTV and its sister channel off the air for a period. The channel subsequently resumed broadcasting. These disruptions did not end the service's expansion into programming partnerships and international distribution. Programming development has been a major part of RTV's brand strategy. The channel carried TV Southasia's South Asian Superstar in 2008, introduced the RTV Star Awards in 2011, and later developed music and talent-oriented properties. In 2012 it became available for mobile streaming through Teletalk's 3G network. It began broadcasting in Australia in 2015, extending its reach beyond Bangladesh. RTV also aired Deutsche Welle's Bengali science and technology program Onneshon from 2017 and hosted the world television premiere of the film Aynabaji in 2018. International and acquired programming has included the animated series Boonie Bears and the Japanese drama Asa ga Kita. In 2020 RTV expanded its digital and original-content activity. It launched RTV Plus as a video-on-demand service, was reported as the most-watched Bangladeshi television channel during Eid al-Fitr according to cited TRP reporting, and organized Torun Nirmatar Notun Golpo to identify emerging directors. The resulting dramas were broadcast on the channel. Subsequent initiatives included the RTV Music Award, which premiered in 2021, and the Young Star musical reality series for young performers. RTV received recognition for its YouTube channel strategy at the 2022 CMO Asia Awards, while CEO Syed Ashik Rahman was recognized in a creative category at the same event. RTV therefore presents itself as a broad Bengali media brand spanning linear television, awards, talent development, digital video, and overseas distribution.
History
RTV developed within Bangladesh's expanding private television sector. Mosaddek Ali Falu applied for a broadcasting license in 2002, and the channel later adopted the RTV name. Falu reportedly explained that its initial R was associated with his daughter, Roza Ali. Test broadcasting began on 1 December 2005, followed by the official launch on 26 December. RTV entered the market as a sister channel of NTV and initially operated under a structure in which the Jubo Karmashangshan Society, or Jubok, held the majority stake while Falu served as chairman. The channel experienced a significant ownership transition in 2007. After Falu's arrest in February, the previously reported intention to sell Jubok's stake was withdrawn, but RTV was ultimately sold to Bengal Media Corporation. Accounts of the transition include allegations that a state intelligence agency may have been involved; these remain allegations and are not presented here as established findings. Bengal Media Corporation became RTV's owner, and the company had previously been known as National Television Limited. RTV's physical location also shaped its early history. A fire at the BSEC Building in February 2007 caused more than 100 injuries and temporarily took RTV, NTV, and the unrelated Islamic TV off the air. The channels later resumed transmission. A second BSEC Building fire on 31 October 2014 again interrupted RTV and NTV, with broadcasting restored after the incident. During the late 2000s and 2010s, RTV broadened its content and distribution. It aired TV Southasia's South Asian Superstar beginning in December 2008, created the RTV Star Awards in 2011, and added mobile streaming through Teletalk's 3G services in 2012. In 2014 it marked actor Salman Shah's death anniversary with a six-day presentation of six of his films. RTV began broadcasting in Australia in August 2015, helping it serve Bengali-speaking audiences outside Bangladesh. The channel was also among broadcasters questioned by the information ministry in 2015 about smoking scenes appearing in television dramas. From 2017 it carried Deutsche Welle's Bengali science and technology program Onneshon, and in 2018 it hosted the world premiere of Aynabaji. The 2020s brought additional investment in digital content and talent formats. RTV aired the animated series Boonie Bears, launched the RTV Plus video-on-demand service in May 2020, and organized Torun Nirmatar Notun Golpo to find emerging directors. Participant-directed dramas were later shown on the channel. RTV's Eid programming performed strongly in cited 2020 TRP reports. The channel then launched RTV Music Award in October 2021 and premiered Young Star in November of that year. A separate IPTV service called RTV Music, launched in 2015, was shut down by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in 2021 after the regulator accused it of operating without a valid license. In 2022, RTV received recognition for its YouTube channel strategy, and CEO Syed Ashik Rahman received a creative leadership award at the same event. RTV's documented trajectory is therefore one of a general Bengali entertainment broadcaster expanding into awards, original production, mobile and online video, and international distribution.
- 2022
Digital strategy recognition
[1]RTV received a Best YouTube Channel Strategy Award at the CMO Asia Awards.
- 2021
RTV Music Award and Young Star debut
[1]The channel introduced a music award show and premiered the Young Star reality music series.
- 2020
RTV Plus launches
[1]RTV launched its video-on-demand service, RTV Plus.
- 2015
Australia distribution begins
[1]RTV began broadcasting in Australia.
- 2012
Mobile streaming expansion
[1]RTV became available through Teletalk's 3G mobile streaming service.
- 2011
RTV Star Awards established
[1]The channel began presenting its RTV Star Awards.
- 2008
South Asian Superstar enters the schedule
[1]RTV began airing TV Southasia's South Asian Superstar.
- 2007
Ownership changes to Bengal Media Corporation
[1]RTV was sold to Bengal Media Corporation during an ownership transition.
- 2005
Test and official broadcasts begin
[1]RTV began test broadcasts on 1 December and officially launched on 26 December as an NTV sister channel.
- 2002
Broadcasting license application
[1]Mosaddek Ali Falu applied for a license to establish RTV.
Products and positioning
A mainstream Bengali-language television and digital media brand combining entertainment, news, music, original drama, talent discovery, and diaspora distribution.
General entertainment television channel · 2005
RTV television channel
RTV's core service is a Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel serving Bangladesh and selected overseas audiences. Its schedule is diversified across scripted dramas, news, music, infotainment, reality programming, films, acquired international programs, and special broadcasts. This broad mix positions RTV as a general entertainment broadcaster rather than a single-genre network.
Video-on-demand service · 2020
RTV Plus
RTV Plus is RTV's branded video-on-demand extension, launched in 2020. It represents the channel's move beyond scheduled linear broadcasting into on-demand digital viewing and provides a platform for distributing RTV-related video content online.
IPTV music channel · 2015
RTV Music
RTV Music was an IPTV channel launched in 2015 as a music-focused extension of the RTV brand. The service was later shut down by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in 2021 after the regulator accused it of broadcasting without a valid license.
Controversies
2021
RTV Music shut down over alleged licensing violation
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission shut down the RTV Music IPTV service after accusing it of operating without a valid broadcasting license.
2007
Allegations surrounding the ownership transfer
Accounts of RTV's sale to Bengal Media Corporation included allegations that a state intelligence agency was involved in the transfer. The available reference describes these as allegations and does not establish them as proven findings.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Torun Nirmatar Notun Golpo
Bangladesh
RTV organized this contest to discover young directors and encourage new television storytelling talent.
Outcome. Dramas directed by the selected or participating young filmmakers were subsequently broadcast on RTV.
- 2014Salman Shah film tribute
Bangladesh
RTV marked Salman Shah's death anniversary by airing six films starring the deceased Bangladeshi actor over six days.
Outcome. The tribute formed a dedicated commemorative programming block.
Brand decisions
2021
Discontinuation of RTV Music IPTVOtherBackground
The regulator accused RTV Music of operating without a valid license.
Action taken
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission shut down the IPTV service.
Aftermath
RTV Music became a defunct extension of the RTV brand, while the main RTV television channel continued operating.
2020
Launch RTV PlusProduct launchBackground
Changing viewing habits created demand for digital and on-demand access to television content.
Action taken
RTV launched RTV Plus as a branded video-on-demand service.
Aftermath
RTV added an online distribution layer to its traditional television business.
2015
Expand distribution to AustraliaStrategyBackground
RTV sought to reach Bengali-speaking viewers outside Bangladesh.
Action taken
The channel began broadcasting in Australia.
Aftermath
The move extended RTV's distribution into an overseas Bengali-language market.
Sources2 sources
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