BTV's expenditure exceeds earnings by up to 12 times: Minister

Bangladesh Television (BTV) has been operating at a significant deficit for years, with its expenditures consistently exceeding its income by a substantial margin. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon informed parliament that the state broadcaster's spending is typically seven to 12 times higher than its earnings.

During the current fiscal year, up to May, BTV's total income, including taxes, amounted to Tk 8.05 crore, while its expenditures soared to Tk 254.18 crore. Advertising revenue contributed only Tk 5.07 crore to this income.

The minister presented a five-year financial overview, detailing BTV's income and expenditure from fiscal year 2020-21 to 2024-25. For instance, in FY2022-23, the broadcaster earned Tk 30.87 crore but spent Tk 370.61 crore. Even in FY2023-24, when income rose to Tk 44.21 crore, expenditure remained high at Tk 298.57 crore.

In addition to BTV's financial situation, the minister addressed other media-related matters. He stated that the Department of Information actively combats rumors and false content on social media through daily fact-checking reports. The country has 55 private television channels, with 39 currently broadcasting. Nationwide, 1,436 daily newspapers are published, alongside 474 registered online news portals. The "BanglaFact" initiative has published 783 fact-checks and analyses to counter misinformation, identifying numerous fake websites and social media accounts spreading propaganda. Amendments to the Press Council Act are also underway.