RTV bows in Bangladesh
Channel to present mix of news, entertainment
RTV will present a mix of news and entertainment similar to its sister station NTV, said Mosadek Ali, chairman of both channels.
Bangladesh in 1995 opened up the airways and allowed private channels to compete with state-run BTV. Cable networks now reach about 40% of the country's estimated 92 million viewers.
Four news and entertainment channels have since jumped into the fray: ATN Bangla, Channel I, NTV and now RTV.
Rising economic growth including a spurt in the popularity of mobile phones has help spur ad spend, which has more than doubled in the past five years to $80 million, an industry exec said.
"Television viewership is growing at a rate of 15%-20% a year. Some 66% of the country's 140 million population now watches television," said Shamsunanahar Tareq, head of media at ad agency Adcom.
