New Bangla channel to launch in the UK

A new television channel to promote Bangladeshi youth culture and music called Strum TV is stepping up plans for its Asia and UK launch.

The satellite-IP (Internet Protocol) TV channel based in Thailand will begin transmission from mid-June this year. The first phase of transmission will cover Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand and US and the second phase will cover India, Sri Lanka, UAE and UK.

As part of their regional programme mix, Strum TV will have a two-hour slot of Bangladeshi content every day in the initial phase of operations, with one hour live and one hour pre-recorded. There will also be live programmes from Pakistan, Thailand and the Middle East.

On the occasion, Umer Sheikh, the CEO of Strum TV (in-charge of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan) had an interactive session with the journalists focusing on the overall plans and objectives of the channel and its Bangladesh operations. According to him, 60 percent of the programmes will be dedicated to music, 30 percent to technology and 10 percent to lifestyle and travel.

Among other speakers from Strum TV, Sayeed Zahir, the chief coordinator of music and Sadia Afreen Chowdhury, the head of programme coordination spoke about the channel’s commitment to feature Bangladeshi culture.