SA TV

SA TV, also known as South Asian Television, is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel headquartered in Gulshan, Dhaka. The channel is owned by the S.A. Group of Companies, a diversified Bangladeshi business group associated with transportation and real estate. Its service is primarily oriented toward viewers in Bangladesh and combines general-interest television programming with news, entertainment, sports, music, drama, films, and lifestyle content. The channel obtained a broadcasting licence from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in April 2010. It began test transmissions on 20 April 2012 and officially commenced broadcasting on 19 January 2013. The launch placed SA TV among Bangladesh's privately operated television channels competing for audiences through Bengali-language news, locally produced entertainment, imported or adapted formats, and topical programming. Syed Salahuddin Zaki, a veteran Bangladeshi filmmaker, served as its first chief operating officer, while Scott Robert Craig was its first head of news, reflecting the channel's early emphasis on combining television production experience with a dedicated news operation. SA TV's schedule has included newscasts, talk shows, dramas, national and international sports coverage, music, movies, and programmes focused on health, fashion, and lifestyle. One of its most visible entertainment properties has been Bangladeshi Idol, a local adaptation of the international Idol franchise that premiered in 2013. Other programming listed in connection with the channel includes Anandogram, Bela Sheshe, Chayer Cup-e Jhor, Chup Kotha, Come to the Point, Crime File, Face, Ghorar Chal Arai Ghor, Joiboti Konyar Mon, Jonotar Samne Jonoprotinidhi, Mathe Moydane, Parampara, Prophet Joseph, Shine On, Tumi Acho Tai, and Tune And Count. The company expanded its production capabilities by launching SA Multimedia on 26 January 2014. This production-house initiative gave the channel an internal platform for developing and producing television content beyond its broadcast identity. In 2015, SA TV received an International Quality Crown Award. The channel has also participated in broader industry debates. In December 2016, television professionals in Bangladesh called on SA TV and three other local channels to remove dubbed foreign television series from their schedules, citing the popularity of such programming and its perceived effect on local television production. SA TV experienced a temporary interruption in May 2021. On 20 May, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited required SA TV, along with Channel 9, to stop transmissions temporarily over unpaid satellite transponder fees, according to authorities. SA TV resumed broadcasting the next day. This episode highlighted the operational dependence of satellite broadcasters on transmission infrastructure and related service payments. Despite this interruption, the available reference material identifies SA TV as an active Bangladeshi television channel serving a broad Bengali-language general-entertainment and information audience.

SA TV is a Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel based in Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The channel's name is an abbreviation of South Asian Television, and its ownership is attributed to the S.A. Group of Companies, a Bangladeshi group with interests including transportation and real estate. The channel received its broadcasting licence from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in April 2010. It conducted test transmissions beginning on 20 April 2012 and moved to official broadcasting on 19 January 2013. Its founding operational team included filmmaker Syed Salahuddin Zaki as the first chief operating officer and Scott Robert Craig as the first head of news. These appointments indicate that the initial service was organized around both general television production and a formal news operation. SA TV developed a broad general-interest schedule. Its programming categories have included newscasts, talk shows, drama, music, movies, national and international sports, and programmes about health, fashion, and lifestyle. The channel also carried Bangladeshi Idol, a local adaptation of the international Idol format that premiered in 2013. The programme list associated with SA TV includes Anandogram, Bela Sheshe, Chayer Cup-e Jhor, Chup Kotha, Come to the Point, Crime File, Face, Ghorar Chal Arai Ghor, Joiboti Konyar Mon, Jonotar Samne Jonoprotinidhi, Mathe Moydane, Parampara, Prophet Joseph, Shine On, Tumi Acho Tai, and Tune And Count. On 26 January 2014, SA TV launched SA Multimedia as a production house. The move expanded the organization's role from operating a broadcast outlet to developing and producing television content. In 2015, the channel was reported to have won an International Quality Crown Award. The channel was involved in an industry dispute concerning the scheduling of dubbed foreign television series. In December 2016, Bangladeshi television professionals demanded that SA TV and three other domestic channels remove such programmes from their schedules. The demand reflected a wider debate over the balance between imported or adapted content and locally produced television in Bangladesh. SA TV encountered a temporary service disruption on 20 May 2021. Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited required the channel, together with Channel 9, to cease operations temporarily because of unpaid satellite transponder fees, according to the cited account. SA TV resumed broadcasting on the following day. The available reference material provides no further detail on the amount of the fees, the duration of any negotiations, or the channel's subsequent financial arrangements. The available information describes SA TV as an active Bangladesh-focused television channel. Its identity rests on Bengali-language broadcasting, a mixed schedule of information and entertainment, and locally oriented programming supplemented by format adaptations and other television content.

• 2021

  Temporary broadcast interruption

  [1]SA TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel temporarily stopped operating over unpaid satellite transponder fees and resumed broadcasts the next day.

• 2015

  International Quality Crown Award

  [1]SA TVen.wikipedia.org

  SA TV was reported to have received an International Quality Crown Award.

• 2014

  SA Multimedia launched

  [1]SA TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel launched its production house, SA Multimedia, on 26 January 2014.

• 2013

  Official broadcasting began

  [1]SA TVen.wikipedia.org

  SA TV commenced official transmissions on 19 January 2013.

• 2012

  Test transmissions began

  [1]SA TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel began test transmissions on 20 April 2012.

• 2010

  Broadcasting licence granted

  [1]SA TVen.wikipedia.org

  SA TV received a broadcasting licence from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

A Bangladeshi general-interest Bengali television channel combining news, locally produced entertainment, sports, drama, music, films, and lifestyle programming for a domestic mass audience.

• Television channel · 2013

  SA TV Bengali-language channel

  SA TV's core offering is a Bengali-language satellite and cable television service for the Bangladeshi market. Its general-interest schedule spans news, talk, drama, sports, music, films, and health, fashion, and lifestyle programmes, allowing the channel to serve both information and entertainment viewing needs.

• Reality and talent competition · 2013

  Bangladeshi Idol

  Bangladeshi Idol is SA TV's local adaptation of the international Idol television format. It premiered in 2013 and represents the channel's use of a recognizable global entertainment structure localized for a Bangladeshi Bengali-speaking audience.

• Television production house · 2014

  SA Multimedia

  SA Multimedia is the production house launched by SA TV in January 2014. It was established to support the development and production of television content associated with the channel.

• 2021

  Temporary suspension linked to transponder feesOther

  Background

  Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited cited unpaid satellite transponder fees in connection with the temporary interruption of SA TV's service.

  Action taken

  SA TV temporarily ceased operations on 20 May 2021 and resumed broadcasting the following day.

  Aftermath

  The cited material records the rapid restoration of broadcasts but does not state the amount paid or provide further details about the resolution.

  Source

• 2014

  Creation of SA MultimediaStrategy

  Background

  SA TV sought to strengthen its content-production capabilities after establishing its broadcast service.

  Action taken

  The channel launched SA Multimedia as an in-house production house on 26 January 2014.

  Aftermath

  The available source identifies the launch but does not provide detailed information about subsequent productions or commercial results.

  Source

1. 1SA TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2SA TV official websitesatv.tv