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NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY

Eng 105
Sec: 6
Research Paper
Competition between TV channels in Bangladesh
Submitted To:
Ms. Michelle Draper
Lecturer
North South University
Submitted By:
Md. Anisul Islam

Serial
Number
1.0
2.0

ID: 103 0034 530

---------- Submission Date: 12th December, 2013-------Fall Semester

Item
Introduction
Purpose of the research

Page Number
3-5
5

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3.0
4.0
5.0

Hypothesis
Literature Review
Secondary data

5
6-7
8-9

6.0

Methodology:
6.1 Data Collections Technique

10-14

7.0

Findings and Results

14-21

8.0

Discussion and Conclusion

21-22

9.0

Reference

23

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction:

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Still our parents remember the program on BTV in around 1990s when there was no other
TV channel except this state-owned one. At that time, some programs like quiz contest
BolunDekhi and BitorkoProtijogita among different schools, colleges or university halls were
being aired regularly especially for the students. According to our elder member of our family,
the programs were interesting which inspired them later to practice those extracurricular
activities besides their academic business. They also turned very much curious about what was
happening all around the world as well as contemporary knowledge about science, culture,
economics, history and politics etc. Thus the programs helped them enriching their skill.
In course of time, several private channels came into on-air to meet the demand of the age of
Information Communication Technology (ICT). Since several channels entered into the
competition against BTV at the end of the 1990s and during the last 10 years, expectation of the
television viewers have increased highly with a hope of enjoying some informative, edifying and
amusement programs which would of time. But recently we do not watch these types of
programs. All the private TV channels are busy with beauty contest, fashion show, dance
competition and musical talent hunt contest among garments laborers, rickshaw-pullers. Not only
the qualities of these programs are very poor, the standard of the winners of these contests also
creates a volley of questions.
As a result, present young generations who are going to school, college or university are
getting too much aware about their beauty. Keeping their study asides, they like to pass their time
by dreaming of becoming a super star by night.
In the beauty competition, we observe western out-fit with the western music, which is not in our
culture. The fate is that our young generations are following western culture and forgetting our
traditional culture. Our private TV channels are almost entirely avoiding programs of classical

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music; traditional Bangladeshi music and songs.
At our young age, a TV program named NotunKuri which was shown on every Fridays and
we were eagerly waiting to watch each episode. There were different parts in the NotunKuri
program like reciting poem, storytelling, acting with quality dramas, different types of dance, and
music competition, classical music; songs and music with deep roots in our culture. Many
present stars like TaranaHalim, Tarin, Ishita, Shaon, came from that NotunKuri program. But
now on BTV we do not see these types of programs. As I remember that in the late 1980s, we
used to take our dinner early to get a place in the TV room for the weekly drama like EiShob
Din Ratri, Bohubrihi Shongshoptok, KothaoKeoNei. After each, we used to spend time
discussing the drama and always were impressed with most of what we viewed.
In that time the language was standard according to Bangla academy, the relationship among
the characters seems to our nearest one like our family member. But now the script of most of the
drama is very poor. The relationships among the characters are unstable and illegal which has a
long run effect on the society. Due to these effects the relationship of the characters in real life
becomes unstable. The other factor for the poor quality is the greed of these stations for money.
They become so commercial that now they are airing their programs in between the
advertisements.
However, the competition in the TV channels brought general improvement in the service in
the entire industry. Most of the TV channels in Bangladesh deliver live breaking domestic and
international news. In order to expand their mobile ENG capabilities beyond using traditional
DSNG vehicles, TV channels deployed TVUPack 3G/4G/LTE cellular uplink solutions because
of its flexibility, ease-of-use superior picture quality and powerful dual-encoding engine.TV
channels have used TVUPack to broadcast a number of important events throughout Bangladesh.

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Basically, tendency of having technological advancement and defining the variations in the
programs to stay on the competition is giving a good pitch to TV channels to increase the
quality, though sometimes this competition of being best in the race is distracting the TV
channels from their own cultural value and trend.

2.0 Purpose of the research

I am doing the research to find out the present scenario and performance of TV channels in
the context of Bangladesh. Basically, recent data showing that already there are 20 TV channels
and few numbers are waiting to telecast their program soon (Appendix). Undoubtedly,
completion among them is getting tough to tougher. In this situation I am trying to find out that
what type of impacts of this competition is falling in their programs.

3.0 Hypothesis
I have established three hypotheses linking up with my topic. I considered the influences of
other culture in our program, technological factors, and program variations as independent
variables. Besides, quality of program has been considered as dependent variable.
H-1: For development in quality, mix cultures are practiced in TV channels which harm our own
culture.
H-2: Competition increases the technological factor in TV channels of our country.
H-3: Competition brings variation in TV channel programs and increase quality of entertainment.
4.0 Literature Review:

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In business world competition is the common phenomenon. There is no single industry
without competitor. And now for the advancement of globalization the competitions are
happening with worldwide companies in a single area. Some scholar also said that sometimes the
competition is happening inside a company. In television channel business there exist tough
competitions. This industry is related to entertainment so it has to consider what its viewer like to
see. To increase value it has to develop its quality continuously. According to Carol A. and David
A. they argued that quality is the value (1994). They said when customers are satisfied for what
they pay for that thing is quality and this mental satisfaction increase the value of that specific
product or service. If we look on our country in the television industry we can observe that the
numbers of channels are increasing so the competition is also increasing and this competition is
not only with national channels but with international channels also. The viewers are the target
market of this industry and they also watch international channels so our TV channels also
consider those TV channels as their competitor. So to defeat them and to be unique in the
peoples eye they design their programs as the people want to see most. For this particular reason
our TV industry recently developed in technological factors. Previously it wasnt digitalized but
now some channels are in HD quality which is definitely a quality factor which has improved.
According to Jeffrey A. satellite channels are the source to bring the global channels into
locals. When people see those channels and programs the benchmark goes up for any
entertainment show and to maintain that our TV channels now a days work in joint venture to
bring some international shows in our country and also when peoples expected goes up for
movies, drama our industry in this sector also developed to compete in the market. This is a very
good development in quality and which is helping to compete with the market.

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According to Feigenbaum (1982) quality is something which is a force to develop in the
economic scale when it is about international market. So to develop in the international market
our TV channels also developing a lot. When it is about technological, content & concept factor
our TV channels are developing continuously. Quality is something which lived under consumer
mind or can be said which is satisfaction of a consumer and our TV channels are now a days
focusing on that point.
But to gain more profit or to compete in the market our TV channels are doing imitate other
channels which are their main competitor and for that they dont consider our cultural value
when they design a program and which is a dangerous factor to influence the youth to consider
another culture as idle. According to Dogu, Ergil Globalization is a phenomenon created
through human activity that in turn constantly changes human activity/behavior and that is
happening every day in our society because when people are continuously seeing a new culture
they try to imitate that because of considering that as a trend and for that sometimes we consider
our own culture as valueless norms. Our youth practicing western culture without proper
environmental acceptance and education and this is why so many crimes are occurring for that
and too much variety can be seen in the mentality of people in our society because of practicing
different types of culture in everyday activities. Our TV channels got their viewers and got all the
advertisements but what are they leading to us is the question of time.

5.0 Secondary data:

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I.

Handy, C. Mix culture can decrease the practice of authentic cultural value. Journal
Cultural affect for Globalization and Technological Improvement.

According to this journal the writer explained that for technological improvement like satellite
television and internet all the culture are now shown to everybody. And the developed countries
culture is rapidly mixed with the developing or undeveloped countries culture and this effect
negatively sometimes. Because practicing a completely new culture sometimes are not accepted
in every culture and sometimes culture are developed on a particular situation and environment
but when that culture practiced without proper environment and acknowledgement its creates a
lots of problem but the biggest problem is for this kind of mix culture practice sometimes the
authentic cultural value lost its appeal to some people.

II.

Handy, C. Television and satellite is the source to bring global culture to local culture.
Journal Cultural affect for Globalization and Technological Improvement.

According to this journal writer proved that global culture blend in the local culture because of
television media. When people constantly see other culture, which may be attractive in some
dimension can force to practice that culture in social aspect by youth of a local people which can
lead to practice a mix culture in every sector of social life. Writer describes some positive and
negative aspects of this issue. The positive things are variation and the negative thing is loss of
authenticity in culture by practicing mix culture.

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III. Crandall, R.W., &Furchtgott-Roth, H. (1996). Cable TV: regulation or competition.
Harrisonburg, Virginia: R.R. Donelley and Sons, co.
This book described about the history of cable TV and its also focus on the subject matter about
the cable TV which is regulation or competition. Author tries to justify its argument by giving
some real life incident.

IV. Hart, J.A. (2004). Technology, television and competition. Cambridge University Press.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, the advanced industrial countries considered replacing the existing
analog television infrastructure with new digital one. Jeffrey Hart's book shows how nationalism
and regionalism combined with conflicting ideas over technology to produce three different and
incompatible DTV standards in the US, Japan and Europe, an outcome which has led to missed
opportunities in developing the new technologies. Hart's book contributes to our understanding
of relations between business and government, and of competition between the world's great
economic powers.

6.0 Methodology:

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For my primary research, I conduct a survey of a representative sampling of the general public
who are the audience of Bangla TV channels and also some people who are related with TV
channels to understand their realization about the competition between TV channels. To that end
I designed a questionnaire with different types of questions so as to get a range of useful data
which helped me to answer my research questions.
For my secondary research, I used the resources of the library and also consult few books and
read articles or journal about competition and its affect. I also used internet search engine to get
helpful documents.

6.1 Data Collections Technique:

Questionnaire and focus group discussionare the tools for myresearch. I had 10 questions in my
questionnaire with all semi-structured way. The questionnaire was filled up by 30 respondents. I
had given them enough time to express their opinion through questions related to the topic.
Survey was conducted directly by handing over the questionnaire. Therefore, any confusion over
the questionnaire was cleared during the survey.

E A sample of the data collection tools:

Table 1: questions and answers of the questionnaire:

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Question

Q.1: Do you watch

TV on your leisure
time?

Options & Ratio

(a) Yes

100%

Q.2: What kind of

TV channels you
watch most?

(b) No

(c) English

(d) Others

0%

(a) Bangla

(b) Indian

25%

Q.3: Which

(a) Bangla

25%

50%

(b) Hindi

0%

(c) English

(d) Others

language programs
you enjoy most?

Q.4: What kind of

program do you like
to watch in
Bangladeshi
channels?

15%

(a)

30%

50%

(b)
Drama
News (Package)

(d)
Eid
Drama Program

30%

(Serial)
5%

25%

(c)

25%

(e)
Informative
5%

5%

(f)

(g)

Reality

Talk

Show
5%

Show
5%

(h) -

0%

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Q.5: Do you think
our TV channels
copying other TV
channels program
from other country?

Q.6: Do you believe

that our TV
channels reflect the
correct culture of
our country?

Q.7: Mention one of

your favorite
programs from
Bangla channel and
one from a foreign
channel.

Q.8: Do you think

our TV channels

(a) Yes

(b) No

(c) Neutral

80%

5%

(a) Yes

(b) No

(c) Neutral

20%

65%

15%

15%

It is an open-ended question.

(a) Yes

(b) No

(c) Neutral

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are capable to
compete with other
countries TV
channels?
Q.9: Do you think
TV channels of
Bangladesh are
having a healthy
competition
between each
other?

50%

(a) Yes

60%

Q.10: Write down

some name of
Bangladeshi TV
channels from your
memory.

45%

5%

(b) No

(c) Neutral

25%

15%

It is an open-ended question.

7.0 Findings and Results

132
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-32A
b04
o
(v(
3e56
50%
)%
(
)0
%
)

1) Classification of different age group of

my research paper:

Findings: Majority of my respondents is in

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between age of 21-24 years; in terms of 65% of respondents out of 100% since or target group
was NSU students. A higher portion of respondents belongs to age group of 16-20 years. 5% of
respondents are above 25 years.

2) Participation of male and female respondents in my research paper:

Gender
45%

55%

Male, 55%

1st Qtr
2nd Qtr

Female,
45%

Findings: 55% of total respondents of my research are male; the accurate number is 17 out of 30
respondents. Rests 35% of the respondents are female. It shows that male is more active
participants of our research paper and they do not fear to disclose their personal matter in front of
my research questionnaire.

3) Do you watch TV on your leisure time?

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Findings: Everyone said yes on this question, thats mean they were perfect audience for my
research.
4) What kind of TV channels you watch most?

a) Bangla
b) Indian
c) English
d) Others

Findings: Most of the people have the choice of English in their option around 50%. For Bangla
% Indian option I got similar type of answer and that is 25% each. Because my survey happened
only in NSU so most of my audience belongs from an educational & upper class family
background and thats why they are very comfortable with the English TV programs.
5) Which language programs you enjoy most?

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Bangla
Hindi
English
Others

Findings: As my target people on survey mostly watch English programs so they also enjoy
English programs most of the time.
6) What kind of program do you like to watch in Bangladeshi channels? [You can choose
more than one.]

10

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Findings: The findings from this question are very important indication. Lets discuss the result
for the question. The highest answer came for the first option which is news and its 30%, for
package drama its 25%, for Eid programs its also 25%, & for others option the ratio is very
poor. I find a very interesting fact in this answer that is unique programs is popular among
audience. Like news, Eid programs which is seasonal is based on our own country & culture
have highest ratio of answer. Another highest answer came for package drama which is very
unique compare to other countries TV channels.

7) Do you think our TV channels copying other TV channels program from other country?

Yes
No
Neutral

Findings: The result in this question is 80% Is for yes, 15% for no and 5% is for neutral. This is
a clear indication that audience can easily compare a program of our country with other foreign
programs. Some of them are franchises but others are clearly copied by its style, presentation or
may be in storyline.

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8) Do you believe that our TV channels reflect the correct culture of our country?

Yes
No
Neutral

Findings:In the response in this question 65% people said no, 20% people said yes and 15%
people said they are neutral about the question. This is a clear indication that people can easily
find out that now a days our TV channels not reflecting our true culture over there programs.

9) Mention one of your favorite programs from Bangla channel and one from a foreign
channel.

Findings: In the response of this question I find out very interesting data because it was an open
ending question. For Bangla programs I got mostlyIttadi, News, Drama (Package), Talk Show.

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For Foreign program I got Walking Dead, FRIENDS, OGGY, Man vs. Wild, CID, IPL, etc. It is
noticeable that for foreign program I got specific names but for the Bangla programs I got
generalized names mostly. People from my survey can remember foreign programs then Bangla
programs.

10) Do you think our TV channels are capable to compete with other countries TV
channels?

Sales

Yes
No
Neutral

Findings: In the response of this question 50% answer was yes, 45% was no and 5% was
neutral. Its indicate that our audience have confidence and believe on our own TV channels.

11) Do you think TV channels of Bangladesh are having a healthy competition between
each other?

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Yes
No
Neutral

Findings: There was mixed opinion in this question as well. 60% of people agree that our TV
channels having a healthy competition between each other. 25% of the people from the survey
dont agree with that opinion and 15% people were neutral.

12) Write down some name of Bangladeshi TV channels from your memory. (eg. BTV)

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Findings: It was an open ending question to understand that my target audience in the survey
which channels they watch most from our own country. I got mostly 8-10 names in average from
all the answerer of this question.

8:0 Discussion and Conclusion

After observing the findings, we can say that the hypotheses we mention at the beginning are
proved as positively. The hypotheses were:
H-1: For development in quality, mix cultures are practiced in TV channels which harm our own
culture. TV channels can dominate the cultural assault through their programs. They just need to
consider our social norms, values, cultures when they are going to increase their program quality
to beat each other.
H-2: Competition increases the technological factor in TV channels of our country. Survey is
showing, people think that TV channels are using advanced technology to enrich the quality.
Channels are using the technology so that they provide the current news with minimum time to
their audience. If there would be only one channel that would rule this sector, then competition
would not be arise and channels authority would not think to have the advancement of
technology. Channels are continuously, competing each other to give their audience better
satisfactions.
H-3: Competition brings variation in TV channel programs and increase quality of
entertainment. Now-a-days, we watch in the TV screen that we are coming back within 30sec.
We often watch this when there is commercial break during dramas or other shows. All the TV
channels do not show it. Few of them do it so that they can hold their audience. During the
festival time like Eid, Puja, TV channels telecast special programs for 6/7 days. Even, they want
to grab the most well-known face for their channel. TV channels are considering the facts only
for audience satisfactions. Basically, they all want to take place in their audience heart.
Thus, what we believe, TV channels can do better by telecasting quality programs with focus on
our culture, our history and our ethos and less on money making greed. Previous time there were
some magazines Apnar Doctor hosted by DrBadrudozzaChowdhury, Jodi kichhuMone Na

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Koren by FazleLohani or Mati o Manush by ShykhSiraj were popular. They visited many
remote areas and brought up with new talent. Ittadi by HanifShanket is still popular for a long
time as he is trying similar like program. Now we need program that can generate some creative
thoughts among the brain of our young generation so that our country can go ahead smoothly
with a jealousy achievement in cultural, political and socio-economic and technological sectors.
Some suggestions:
1. The programs which are unique and match with our own culture can grab more audience.
2. Commercial breaks should be limited and at a tolerable level.
3. Differentiate between other channels.

9.0 Reference:
Quality is the single most leading force leading to the economic growth of companies in
International market (Feigenbaum,1982, p.22)
Dogu, Ergil (September 08, 2013). Globalization is a phenomenon created through
human activity that in turn constantly changes human activity/behavior. Sundays
Zaman.
Jeffrey, A. Television and satellite is the source to bring global culture to local culture.
Technology, television and Competition: Cambridge.
Carol, A and David, A. (1994) Quality is value, Journal of Defining Quality:
Alternatives and Implications, 19(3):420
Drucker, P. (1946)Concept of corporation. Unites States: John Day
Smith, A. (1776) Wealth of Nations. Scotland: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, London
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnists-204938-social-and-cultural-impacts-ofglobalization.html
http://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr&id=Y2gPcIpt6q4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=competition%20increases
%20quality%20%3A%20is%20it%20true%20for%20tv
%20channels&ots=oaBCk3U08o&sig=PVHRiQx8fRp0sENQ0UwIplkBxUE#v=onepage
&q=competition%20increases%20quality%20%3A%20is%20it%20true%20for%20tv
%20channels&f=false

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