Channel 24 (Bangladeshi TV channel)

Channel 24
CountryBangladesh
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersTejgaon, Dhaka
Programming
Language(s)Bengali
Picture format1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for SDTV sets)
Ownership
OwnerTimes Media Limited
History
Launched24 March 2012; 12 years ago (2012-03-24)
Links
Websitewww.channel24bd.tv

Channel 24 (Bengali: চ্যানেল টুয়েন্টিফোর) is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel airing programming relating to news and current affairs, owned by Times Media Limited, a subsidiary of the Ha-meem Group.[1][2][3] The channel was launched on 24 May 2012 initially as a mixed entertainment channel, before moving to solely airing news programming.

History

Channel 24 was granted a license to broadcast in February 2010 by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.[4] It began test transmissions on 22 August 2011. Although initially planning to do so in December of that year,[5] it officially commenced transmissions on 24 May 2012 at 19:00 (BST).[6][7] Originally, its programming line was diversified, consisting of drama, news, television films, music, sports, talk shows, and many more. It also offered programming targeted towards viewers in Chittagong, which is broadcast from the city.[6] It later changed its focus to mostly airing news and current affairs programming. Within two years of its launch, Channel 24 became the top news channel in Bangladesh.[8]

Channel 24 was one of the nine Bangladeshi television channels to sign an agreement with Bdnews24.com to subscribe to a video-based news agency run by children called Prism in May 2016.[9] The channel was the first in Bangladesh to introduce an AI news anchor, named 'Aparajita', who debuted on 19 July 2023.[10] During the non-cooperation movement on 5 August 2024, Channel 24 broadcast live footages of protesters storming the Ganabhaban, the official residence of the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, as they celebrate her resignation.[11][12][13]

Controversies

On 18 September 2013, on Channel 24's talk show Muktobaak, two participants stated that the rights of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury were curtailed as he was not allowed to place defense witnesses, raising doubts about the trial process by the International Crimes Tribunal. This statement was found to be "baseless" and "utterly false" and resulted in a contempt petition against the officials of the channel.[14][15]

Programming

References

  1. ^ "At least 6 militants killed, several hostages rescued in Dhaka restaurant attack". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Violence continues in Bangladesh strike". Dawn. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. ^ সমকালের আধুনিক স্টুডিও উদ্বোধন. Samakal (in Bengali). 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  4. ^ অনুমোদনের অপেক্ষায় আরো ১৩ টিভি. BDNews24 (in Bengali). 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Channel 24 goes for test transmission". The Daily Star. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b সম্প্রচার শুরু হচ্ছে চ্যানেল টুয়েন্টিফোরের. BanglaNews24 (in Bengali). 24 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  7. ^ Raihan, Tapas (24 May 2012). চ্যানেল ২৪ এবং অতঃপর…?. BDNews24. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  8. ^ তিন বছরে পা দিল 'চ্যানেল টোয়েন্টিফোর'. Samakal (in Bengali). 25 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Prism signs up with 7 TV channels". BDNews24. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Aparajita: Bangladesh's first AI news anchor on Channel 24". Dhaka Tribune. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Bangladesh protesters storm prime minister's palace". BBC. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Bangladesh army announces interim government after PM Sheikh Hasina flees". Al Jazeera English. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Bangladesh: Protesters storm prime minister's palace". Deutsche Welle. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Channel 24 faces contempt charges". BDNews24. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Comment on sub-judice matter: Channel24 faces contempt charge". Bangla Tribune. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e টিভি গাইড: ৭ মে, ২০১৩. Priyo (in Bengali). 7 May 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  17. ^ a b Sameer Kumar Dey (23 October 2018). 'বিশ্বের সাতটি টক শো'র একটি তৃতীয় মাত্রা'. Deutsche Welle (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.