Somoy TV
Somoy TV is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite, cable and digital news channel.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Somoy TV, commonly branded on air as Somoy, is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language television news channel headquartered in Dhaka. Its programming centers on rolling news coverage, live reporting, political and public-affairs discussion, interviews, current-affairs analysis and reports from across Bangladesh. The channel operates through satellite and cable distribution and also maintains a substantial digital presence through its website and official YouTube channel. The channel received government authorization to broadcast in October 2009. It began test transmissions on 10 October 2010 and entered commercial operation on 17 April 2011. Before its formal launch, ownership of the project changed when it was sold to City Group on 8 June 2010. City Group has subsequently been identified as Somoy TV’s primary owner. The channel is based at Nasir Trade Centre on Bir Uttam CR Dutta Road in Dhaka, placing it within the country’s principal media and business center. Somoy has expanded beyond conventional television through mobile and online distribution. In October 2012, it became available for streaming on mobile phones through Teletalk’s 3G service. In 2019, the channel moved to Bangladesh-1 satellite distribution after Somoy and other Bangladeshi broadcasters signed an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited. Its YouTube operation became particularly prominent: in 2021, the official channel became the first Bangladeshi YouTube channel to receive the platform’s Diamond Play Button, reflecting a very large subscriber base and the importance of digital video to its audience strategy. The brand has also been involved in public-interest and international sports broadcasting arrangements. In November 2011, Somoy and three other Bangladeshi television channels agreed with UNICEF to broadcast a one-minute children’s program. In the period before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Somoy was reported as one of the official Bangladeshi broadcasters, alongside Bangladesh Television and T Sports. Somoy’s public profile has been shaped both by its extensive news coverage and by disputes concerning journalistic conduct, political neutrality and institutional control. Reporters and equipment associated with the channel were targeted in several incidents during the 2010s. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the channel’s talk shows in 2023, alleging bias. During the 2024 quota-reform protests, a Somoy video journalist was suspended after footage circulated showing him asking police to shoot protesters while he was covering a clash; the incident led to online criticism. The channel experienced significant disruption in August 2024. On 5 August, shortly after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, Somoy temporarily stopped transmitting after its facilities were attacked and vandalized. Later that month, the High Court ordered a one-week suspension of its television broadcasts following a petition by Shampa Rahman, while the organization continued operating online. Television transmission resumed on 26 August under new management. The episode was connected to a dispute over the channel’s leadership: reports said managing director and chief executive Ahmed Jobaer had been removed and replaced by Shampa Rahman, while Jobaer disputed the decision, arguing that the license was in his name and indicating that he would challenge the action in court. Somoy’s own web portal denied that Jobaer had been dismissed and described the relevant board meeting as unlawful. Fact-checking organizations have identified Somoy TV as a significant source of misinformation in Bangladesh. In May 2025, the channel’s YouTube presence was among several Bangladeshi news channels geo-blocked in India, reportedly on national-security grounds during the India–Pakistan conflict. These developments illustrate the tension between Somoy’s role as a high-reach news provider and the political, regulatory and platform-governance pressures affecting Bangladeshi media.
History
Somoy TV developed during the expansion of Bangladesh’s private television sector in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It received government permission to broadcast in October 2009. Test transmission began on 10 October 2010, and the project was sold to City Group on 8 June 2010 before its formal launch. Somoy entered commercial operation on 17 April 2011 as a Bengali-language satellite and cable news channel. From the beginning, the channel’s core activity was news and current affairs rather than general entertainment. Its output included national and local reporting, political coverage, live events, interviews, panel discussions and public-affairs programming. In November 2011, Somoy joined three other Bangladeshi television channels in an agreement with UNICEF to air a one-minute children’s program, demonstrating an early public-service dimension alongside its news identity. Distribution gradually broadened beyond conventional television. In October 2012, Somoy became available for mobile streaming through Teletalk’s 3G service. On 19 May 2019, it and five other Bangladeshi channels began broadcasting through the Bangladesh-1 satellite following an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited. The network also built a major online audience. Its official YouTube channel became the first Bangladeshi channel to receive YouTube’s Diamond Play Button in 2021, making digital video a central part of the brand’s reach. Somoy’s history has included repeated security, legal and political challenges. On 1 January 2014, unidentified people reportedly threw bombs at a Somoy vehicle in Chittagong, injuring its driver. In April 2015, police seized broadcast equipment outside the Gulshan office of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, stating that the equipment would be examined for sensitive material. In May 2016, drug dealers assaulted Somoy’s Cox’s Bazar correspondent Sujauddin Rubel after reporting on drug trafficking. In August of the same year, Bangladesh’s attorney general complained to the Supreme Court about remarks made during a Somoy talk show concerning the trial of executed war-crimes convict Mir Quasem Ali; the channel was subsequently asked to provide a transcript. In November 2017, men linked in reports to the Jubo League allegedly assaulted four journalists, including a Somoy correspondent, while they were covering preparations for the inauguration of construction at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Three people were later arrested. In August 2023, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced a boycott of Somoy talk shows, alleging that the channel was biased. During the 2024 quota-reform protests, video journalist Md. Shariatullah was suspended after being recorded asking police to shoot protesters while covering a clash in Dhaka; the incident generated substantial criticism online. The most serious institutional disruption came in August 2024. On 5 August, shortly after Sheikh Hasina resigned, Somoy temporarily went off air after its premises were attacked and vandalized. A separate leadership conflict then resulted in court proceedings. Reports stated that managing director and chief executive Ahmed Jobaer had been removed and replaced by Shampa Rahman. Jobaer disputed the decision and argued that the channel’s license was in his name, while Somoy described the board meeting as illegal and denied that he had been validly sacked. Following a petition by Rahman, the High Court ordered a one-week television broadcast suspension beginning late on 19 August. Somoy continued online activity and resumed television transmission on 26 August under new management. Jobaer also pursued applications challenging his removal and seeking restoration of broadcasts. The channel’s public reputation has also been affected by misinformation assessments. Several fact-checking organizations have described Somoy TV as a significant source of misinformation in Bangladesh. In May 2025, India geo-blocked its YouTube channel along with those of other Bangladeshi broadcasters, reportedly because of national-security concerns during the India–Pakistan conflict. Despite these controversies and disruptions, Somoy remains an active Bangladeshi news brand with television, satellite, cable, web and video-platform operations.
- 2024
Broadcast disruption and court-ordered suspension
[1]Somoy temporarily stopped transmission after attacks in August and later faced a High Court-ordered one-week television suspension before resuming broadcasts.
- 2021
YouTube Diamond Play Button
[1]The official YouTube channel became the first Bangladeshi channel to receive the Diamond Play Button.
- 2019
Bangladesh-1 satellite distribution
[1]Somoy began broadcasting through Bangladesh-1 under an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited.
- 2012
Mobile streaming expands reach
[1]Somoy became available for streaming on phones through Teletalk’s 3G service.
- 2011
Commercial launch
[1]Somoy TV began commercial broadcasting on 17 April.
- 2010
Test transmission begins
[1]The channel began test transmissions on 10 October.
- 2010
Project sold to City Group
[1]Somoy TV was sold to City Group before its commercial launch.
- 2009
Broadcast authorization granted
[1]Somoy TV received government permission to operate as a television broadcaster in Bangladesh.
Products and positioning
A high-reach Bangladeshi Bengali-language news brand combining continuous television reporting with online video distribution and current-affairs programming.
Satellite and cable news television · 2011
Somoy TV television channel
The main Bengali-language television service, offering continuous news coverage, live reports, political and public-affairs programming, interviews, discussion panels and reporting from Bangladesh. It is distributed through cable and satellite systems and has used Bangladesh-1 satellite distribution since 2019.
Online news and video
Somoy digital news service
Somoy’s web and digital-video operation extends the television brand through online news, clips, live coverage and social-platform publishing. The digital service has remained important during periods when television transmission was interrupted.
Digital video platform
Somoy TV YouTube channel
The official YouTube channel distributes news videos, live streams and current-affairs content. It became the first Bangladeshi YouTube channel to receive a Diamond Play Button in 2021, although it was temporarily hacked in 2022 and geo-blocked in India in 2025.
Controversies
2024
Video journalist suspended during quota-reform protest coverage
Somoy suspended video journalist Md. Shariatullah after footage showed him asking police to shoot protesters while he was covering a clash in Dhaka. The conduct drew criticism online.
2023
Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycott over alleged bias
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted Somoy talk shows, alleging that the channel’s coverage and discussion programming were biased.
Misinformation assessments
Several fact-checking organizations have identified Somoy TV as a significant source of misinformation within Bangladesh.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011UNICEF one-minute children’s programming agreement
Bangladesh
Somoy and three other Bangladeshi television channels agreed with UNICEF to air a one-minute children’s program.
Outcome. The agreement added a short public-interest children’s feature to the channel’s television schedule.
Brand decisions
2024
Attempted management changeOtherBackground
A board meeting reportedly considered the position of managing director and chief executive Ahmed Jobaer during a period of political upheaval.
Action taken
Reports said Jobaer was replaced by Shampa Rahman. Jobaer disputed the action and pursued legal remedies, while Somoy challenged the legality of the board meeting.
Aftermath
The dispute contributed to court proceedings and a temporary television broadcast suspension before broadcasts resumed under new management.
2019
Adoption of Bangladesh-1 satellite distributionStrategyBackground
Somoy sought continued national television distribution alongside five other Bangladeshi channels.
Action taken
The channel signed an agreement with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited and began broadcasting through the Bangladesh-1 satellite.
Aftermath
The agreement expanded Somoy’s satellite-distribution infrastructure within Bangladesh.
Recent events
- 2025
Somoy TV named among reported Bangladeshi broadcasters for 2026 FIFA World Cup[1]
Product launch
Somoy TV was reported as an official Bangladeshi broadcaster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Bangladesh Television and T Sports.
- 2025
Somoy TV YouTube channel geo-blocked in India[1]
Regulation
India geo-blocked the YouTube channels of Somoy TV and several other Bangladeshi broadcasters, reportedly citing national-security concerns during the India–Pakistan conflict.
- 2024
Leadership dispute emerges at Somoy TV[1]
Leadership change · Lawsuit
Reports said Ahmed Jobaer had been relieved as managing director and chief executive and replaced by Shampa Rahman. Jobaer challenged the action, while Somoy disputed the legality of the board meeting and denied that he had been properly dismissed.
- 2024
Somoy TV temporarily stops transmission after attacks[1]
Other
The channel temporarily ceased transmission after its facilities were attacked and vandalized following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.
- 2024
High Court orders temporary broadcast suspension[1]
Regulation · Lawsuit
The High Court ordered Somoy to suspend television broadcasts for one week after a petition filed by Shampa Rahman. The channel continued online operations and resumed television broadcasts on 26 August.
- 2022
Somoy TV YouTube channel hacked and temporarily renamed[1]
Other
Unknown hackers took control of the official YouTube channel, renamed it Ethereum 2.0 and altered its presentation. Access was restored shortly afterward, although the original channel name took longer to return.
- 2021
Somoy TV receives YouTube Diamond Play Button[1]
Other
The channel’s official YouTube account became the first from Bangladesh to receive YouTube’s Diamond Play Button.
- 2011
Somoy TV begins commercial broadcasting[1]
Other
Somoy TV officially entered commercial television operation after a period of test transmission.
Sources2 sources
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