Indian TV channels are continuing their broadcast in Bangladesh and Nepal even though local distributors in both countries owe them hundreds of crores in unpaid license fees. The situation has become most severe in Bangladesh, especially after Sheikh Hasina was removed from power. Despite financial struggles, Indian broadcasters are afraid to stop their feed, fearing piracy and losing their market permanently.
Rising Tension in Regional Broadcast Business
The commercial relationship between India and its neighboring countries, Nepal and Bangladesh, is facing a new crisis. According to a report by The Hindu, Indian television broadcasters have not received license fee payments worth hundreds of crores of rupees from local distributors in these countries. Over the past year, the problem has become more serious.
Executives say that the biggest problem is in Bangladesh. After Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power, Bangladeshi TV distributors have stopped paying Indian broadcasters for their channels.
“শেখ হাসিনা ক্ষমতাচ্যুত হওয়ার পর থেকে বাংলাদেশি টিভি পরিবেশকেরা ভারতীয় সম্প্রচার সংস্থাগুলোকে তাদের চ্যানেলের ফি দেওয়া বন্ধ করে দিয়েছে।”
Translation: “Since Sheikh Hasina was removed from power, Bangladeshi TV distributors have stopped paying Indian broadcasting companies their channel fees.”
Read More: Health Advisor Supports Paternity Leave with Three Conditions
Clean Feed Policy and Growing Debts
Indian TV channels enjoy strong popularity in both Bangladesh and Nepal. Because of this, they provide a “clean feed,” which means broadcasting without foreign advertisements.
However, despite this popularity, the unpaid dues are rising quickly. In Nepal, the dues have crossed 100 crore rupees in recent weeks. In Bangladesh, the unpaid amount is even higher – more than 250 crore rupees, according to an executive.
Payment Issues in Bangladesh
A report in The Hindu also mentioned that large business groups, including Beximco, failed to get permission from Bangladesh Bank to send remittances to clear Indian broadcasters’ dues. On top of this, because of the current political crisis, neither diplomats nor politicians in Bangladesh are showing much interest in solving these commercial problems.
The Situation in Nepal
Since April 2023, Indian TV channels have been facing additional problems in Nepal. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology of Nepal introduced a pricing system called “a la carte.” However, broadcasters were given only two days to implement it. Because they failed to comply, the Nepal government stopped releasing foreign currency needed for payments.
Why Indian Channels Still Continue Broadcasting
Despite these huge unpaid dues, Indian broadcasters are reluctant to stop their feeds. An executive explained the reason:
“যদি তাঁরা ফিড বন্ধ করে দেন, তাহলে বাংলাদেশের পরিবেশকেরা সহজেই পাইরেটেড ফিড ব্যবহার করতে পারে। এতে করে বকেয়া লাইসেন্স ফি আদায়ের সব আশা শেষ হয়ে যাবে এবং ভবিষ্যতে এই বাজারে পুনরায় প্রবেশ করা কঠিন হয়ে পড়বে।”
Translation: “If they stop the feed, Bangladeshi distributors could easily use pirated feeds. This would end all hope of collecting unpaid license fees and make it very difficult to re-enter this market in the future.”
In fact, in 2023, Airtel temporarily cut its service in Nepal, but it was restored within just a few hours.
Diplomatic Silence and Upcoming Meetings
The issue is growing at a sensitive time. Nepal’s Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli is scheduled to visit India in September. Before that, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri already visited Kathmandu.
However, when The Hindu contacted the Nepal Embassy, the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, none of them agreed to comment on the matter.
Background of the Clean Feed Law
Back in 2006, Bangladesh passed a law stating that foreign TV channels must broadcast without foreign advertisements. Local cable providers kept delaying its implementation. Finally, on 1 October 2021, the government strictly enforced the law. As a result, many foreign TV channels stopped broadcasting in Bangladesh. Later, some of them resumed under the clean feed policy.
Source: Ajker Patrika
