Channel i (Bengali: চ্যানেল আই) is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel owned by Impress Group. It was launched on 1 October 1999, as Bangladesh's first digital television channel. It is one of the oldest satellite television channels in Bangladesh.[1] Channel i is broadcast via satellite television using PanAmSat and Bangabandhu-1,[2] covering most of Asia and parts of Australia. It is sister to the radio station, Radio Bhumi.[3]
 | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | Tejgaon, Dhaka |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for SDTV sets) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Impress Group |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 October 1999 |
| Links | |
| Website | channelionline |
History
Prior to the establishment of the channel, Faridur Reza Sagar established Impress Telefilm, which initially produced small-mini series and one-off shows for state-owned Bangladesh Television.[4] Channel i began broadcasting on 1 October 1999 from a small building in the Siddheshwari neighborhood of Dhaka,[5] with the "Hridoye Bangladesh" (হৃদয়ে বাংলাদেশ; lit. 'Bangladesh in the heart') slogan, which is still used as of today.[6] It initially broadcast pre-recorded television programs for 12 hours, but was converted to a 24-hour channel within two years of its launch.[7]
On 1 October 2001, Channel i began airing news programming.[8] The channel launched its website on 30 September 2003.[6] Channel i's news director, Shykh Seraj, created Hridoye Mati O Manush, based on the old Bangladesh Television program Mati O Manush, which debuted on the channel on 21 February 2004.[9] In March 2008, the channel began broadcasting Sisimpur to Bangladeshi children worldwide.[10] Channel i had also broadcast modern western-themed telefilms, such as Play, directed by M-SIB, in 2010, thus making them the first Bangladeshi television channel to do so.[11] On 11 June 2015, BBC Bangla's BBC Probaho premiered on Channel i.[12]
Channel i 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.[13] Channel i began high definition broadcasts on 15 September 2017, and fully migrated from standard definition broadcasts on 1 October.[14][15] For Bangladesh Television's 55th anniversary on 25 December 2019, Channel i organized a special program in its headquarters in Tejgaon, which was broadcast on both networks.[16]
Programming
Current and former
- 420[17]
- BBC Bangladesh Shonglap[18]
- BBC Probaho[12]
- Channel i Music Awards
- Dainik Tolpar[19]
- Ekjon Mayaboti[20]
- Ghor Kutum[21]
- Hridoye Mati O Manush
- Lux Channel I Superstar
- Priyo Din Priyo Rat[22]
- Sakin Sarisuri
- Saat Bhai Champa[23]
- Sonar Pakhi Rupar Pakhi[24]
- Sisimpur
- Tritiyo Matra
- Vober Hat
Audience share
In 2010, Channel i held a total audience share of 36%, tied with ATN Bangla. In urban areas, the channel had an audience share of 62%, the highest among privately owned channels in Bangladesh, and in metropolitan areas, it had a share of 61%.[25] Channel i was ranked highest among most watched television channels in Bangladesh during its founding anniversary in 2013.[26]
See also
References
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