Channel S
| Country |  United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | London |
Channel S is a UK-based, free-to-air television channel targeting the Bangladeshi community in the United Kingdom & Europe. It began broadcasting on 16 December 2004 on Sky channel 827 following a timesharing agreement with ATN Global. In March 2005, it moved to its own EPG channel 837 and started broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The word 'S' relates to the word 'Sylhet', as being the first channel broadcasting content mainly in the Sylheti language, it has built up a loyal following among the Bangladeshis in the United Kingdom who the majority come from, Sylhet.[1] It provides viewers with Bengali drama, music, news and many more programmes to satisfy, and it provides shows that are voicing the concerns of the Bangladeshi community, shows such as 'Legal Advice' and Islamic programs such as 'Islam Essentials'.
History
- From August 2006, Channel S acquired the rights to broadcast two of Bangladesh's prominent satellite channels, NTV (Bangladesh) & ATN Bangla. These are also available on Sky channels 826 & 827 respectively. Since then, it has stopped broadcasting NTV, and now has acquired the rights to broadcast, Channel I started from October 2007, and throughout Europe.
- In May 2007, Channel S launch Islam4U - a channel dedicated to Islamic programmes (however has not started to broadcast)
First Solution Money Transfer scandal
In June 2007, First Solution Money Transfer, a financial services company run by at least one the managing directors of Channel S went into liquidation owing the public hundreds of thousands of pounds.[citation needed] Mahee Ferdaus Jalil, the chairman of Channel S at the time, filed for an injunction against Bangla TV to prevent allegations of impropriety by Channel S or its Chairman from being broadcast as well as defamations cases against a number of prominent businessmen who had made the allegations.[citation needed][2]
Controversy
Channel S is under investigation, as of April 2008, by Ofcom for a breach of the Communications Act 2003, after airing election adverts for the Liberal Democrats just days before the London mayoral election, 2008. Under the act you cannot air election adverts as opposed to election broadcasts. The adverts were running on the channel from 18 April 2008.[3]
On 4th August 2008, Mahee Ferdaus Jalil AKA Mohammed Ferdaus the Founder Chairman of Channel S (along with others) was found guilty of car insurance claims fraud and sentenced to 18 months prison term. [1]
Popular Programmes
- Sur Jolsha
- Reality with Mahee
- iRonnee
- Obhimot
- Win a car
- Islam essentials
References
- ^ "Methods-Study population - 95%: International migration and the rural context in Sylhet. New Community 18: 579–590". Gardner K. Retrieved (2003).
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Press Conference by Mahee (Chairman of Channel S) refuting allegations linking him to First Solution (Language: Bengali/Sylheti)
- ^ http://www.respectrenewal.org/content/view/274/72/
4.http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Media/News/carfraudgandsentenced.htm