Tk 10,000cr media opportunity needs level playing field

Bangladesh has the potential to build a robust media and entertainment industry worth more than Tk 10,000 crore. Capturing that opportunity requires a regulatory framework that recognises the respective roles of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Television and broadcast content fall within the regulatory domain of MoIB, while BTRC regulates telecommunications networks, connectivity and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Against this backdrop, BTRC is reportedly considering allowing ISPs to bundle domestic and international OTT and streaming services with broadband packages. But if the framework is not carefully structured, it risks creating regulatory bypass and uneven competition, undermining the formalisation and monetisation of the media and entertainment industry. A licence to provide internet connectivity should not, by itself, give the authority to aggregate and commercially distribute such content.

A MoIB-licensed television platform invests in content rights, technology and infrastructure. It must secure legitimate distribution rights, comply with copyright and content requirements, and meet regulatory and tax obligations. If an ISP can aggregate television, streaming, sports and other content into its broadband proposition without equivalent obligations, both may compete for the same household and consumer spending under materially different regulatory conditions. There is also a growing gap between the existing regulatory framework and market practice. Some domestic OTT platforms already carry linear television channels without the applicable licence or broadcasting authorisation, while some ISPs are involved in the unauthorised retransmission and distribution of television channels and premium content. The same principle must apply to digital platforms operating from outside Bangladesh but targeting Bangladesh consumers. Content rights cannot substitute for the regulatory authority required to distribute that content in Bangladesh. Without the required authorisation, such activity is unauthorised distribution and should be subject to enforcement by MoIB and BTRC.

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Licensed broadcasters and platforms lose the ability to monetise audiences, while the government loses substantial revenue from taxation, licensing and fees when Bangladesh content rights and consumers are monetised outside the regulated broadcasting and fiscal framework. Attracting foreign direct investment into the media and entertainment and creative economy requires regulatory certainty, a level playing field and credible enforcement. Investors need confidence that regulations will be consistently applied and that licensed operators will not be disadvantaged by unlicensed competition and unauthorised services.

BTRC-licensed ISPs should be encouraged to partner with appropriately MoIB-licensed broadcasting platforms. ISPs can provide connectivity, market bundled packages, acquire customers, undertake billing and participate in revenue sharing. The MoIB-licensed operator should remain responsible for content aggregation, rights, copyright compliance, subscriber entitlement and service delivery. A large and investable media and entertainment industry cannot be built if MoIB-licensed operators bear the costs of content rights, licensing and taxation while equivalent content services reach consumers without comparable obligations. Regulation should follow the activity, not the technology used to deliver it. Whether television and broadcast content reaches consumers through satellite, cable, broadband, mobile or the public internet, its commercial aggregation and distribution should remain subject to the appropriate MoIB regulatory framework.

Bangladesh first needs a comprehensive Broadcasting Act that establishes a consistent framework for content licensing, aggregation, distribution and enforcement across technologies. Such a framework should define the respective roles of MoIB and BTRC, protect content rights and enable new distribution models. Crucially, it must be backed by effective enforcement against piracy, unauthorised content distribution and platforms operating outside the applicable licensing framework. The objective should be to bring more viewers, content and revenues into the economy, attract foreign investment and unlock the full potential of the media and entertainment opportunity, not inadvertently suppress it.

The writer is a strategic consultant across technology, media and infrastructure industries