Advisory: With photo & logo
Dhaka, Nov 19 (BDNEWS) – With trial run from December 1, the RTV, country's fourth private satellite television channel, starts telecast from December 26.
Mosaddek Ali, MP, chairman and managing director of National Television Limited that owned the RTV, announced this at a press conference in Dhaka Saturday.
President Prof Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed will inaugurate the operation of the channel at a function at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre on December 26.
"RTV will be the first private channel in the country which will telecast programmes for 24 hours a day since its launching," Ali said.
With the slogan "Today and Tomorrow's", he said news will be the heart of the channel and there will be no favour or disfavour to any quarter.
"We are committed to maintaining total objectivity and neutrality in presenting news," said Ali, the ruling party MP from Dhaka-10.
Asked whether he got the license for his political affiliation, Mosaddek Ali said: I applied for the license in 2002 as a citizen of the country. The government was kind enough to provide me the license.
On Ekushey Television's plea for satellite operation, he said: I hope those who applied and are eligible will get the licenses.
Replying to a question, he requested journalists to write so that all the satellite operators get the terrestrial facility to reach their programmes to rural areas.
Asked why he went for a second channel, as he and others already owned NTV, Ali said: We introduced the latest technology through NTV and maintained neutrality in news. We want there be competition even between us.
He, however, informed the journalists that the entrepreneurs of the RTV are different than that of NTV's, excepting him and Enayetur Rahman.
Ali hoped that RTV will also present quality pictures through most sophisticated equipment set up already. The earth station has been installed at Karwan Bazar where the head office of the channel is situated.
In reply to a query, he said they themselves are worried as whether the present advertisement market can absorb many channels, but added, those who will be able to ensure quality and maintain neutrality will survive.
Among others, RTV directors Enayetur Rahman, Lutfar Rahman, Lokman Hossain and Mesbahuddin Ahmed were present at the press conference.
It was also attended by news chief Syed Ishtiaque Reza, programme chief KM Harun and coordinator Kawsar Chowdhury.
BDNEWS/1510 hrs
