ZEE TV channels back on air after 24-hour blackout in Bangladesh

The popular TV channels of India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises are back on the air after a 24-hour blackout.

The channels could not be watched from Bangladesh after the government pulled two distributors for airing local advertisements on foreign channels.

The information ministry served notices on Nationwide Media Limited and Jadoo Vision Limited asking them to explain their position on the advertisement issue on Monday.

“The Zee TV channels were back on the air from 12pm on Wednesday,” Faisal, a staff of Jadoo Vision Limited, told bdnews24.com.

Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh or COAB is scheduled to sit with the two cable operators on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the issue.

"The issue will be discussed in the meeting. After the discussion, we will determine the next steps," Selim Sarwar, a COAB leader, told bdnews24.com.

Responding to reporters’ questions about the shutdown of Zee channels on Tuesday, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said the government did not stop the transmission of any TV channel, but it only enforced the law.

The Cable Television Network Act prohibits airing of advertisements of local products on foreign channels. But some local advertisements were being aired on some foreign TV channels broadcast in Bangladesh, which is against the regulation.

“We served the notice asking to telecast without displaying advertisements. We will decide after getting the reply of the notice,” the information minister said.

Earlier, the ministry had served several notices urging all cable operators of the country to stop airing Bangladeshi advertisements in foreign channels from Apr 1.