Before digging deep into the history we first need to know what ATN Bangla stands for. ATN stands for Asian Television Network. It is the first satellite channel in Bangladesh. The channel started broadcast in South Asia on 15 July 1997. It has become a renowned satellite channel all over the world throughout these years.
ATN Bangla has received International Children's Day of Broadcasting Award at the 32nd International Emmy Awards Gala in 2004 among all the Asian TV Channels. This channel won this award because of a children’s show “আমরাও পারি” (we can). It was based on a true story of a 9 year-old-boy. This boy stopped a passenger train from approaching a disjointed railtrack and saved hundreds of passengers by preventing a train journey.
On July 15, 1997 ATN Bangla started its first operating transmission. It continued the on air transmission from 7pm to 8 pm in Bangla about six months. It developed a lot as the years passed by. It switched to digital technology from analog in May 1999. The outcome was that the screen became brighter and more attractive. Within three years of the first telecast the channel extended its transmission to Europe and beyond. In the very next year, the channel was converted to a globally digital system. Then, in 2001 ATN Bangla broadcast its first news bulletin. The news bulletin was in Bangla. The Analog Transmission changed to Digital Satellite News Gathering System (SNG) in 2002 due to the dynamic leadership of the Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman. In the same year the channel started English News Bulletins. After Europe, the channel started its transmission in the USA in 2004.
As the time passes ATN Bangla has achieved its popularity. It uses the highest technology and hires the suitable human resources in every sector to attain its excellence. This channel is well equipped with digital and modern accessories like broadcasting software and hardware (microphone, camera, talk back, computers and other necessary materials). It telecasts programs and news 24 hours a day. It transmits all the programs from Dhaka studio. Its office is in WASA Bhaban, 98 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Kawran Bazar.
ATN Bangla gained its popularity in South East Asia, Far East, Middle East, Europe, The United States of America, Canada, Australia and Africa for providing its viewers with the latest information about news worthy events both at home and abroad.
Organizational Profile
Organization : Asian Television Network, ATN Bangla
Launched : July 15, 1997
Address : WASA Bhaban, 98 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Dhaka 1215
Telephone : +88 02 8189630-4
Web Address : www.atnbangla.tv
Social Site : https://www.facebook.com/atnbangladhaka/
Video Site : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYKY7viNz-JYxV9LAsiQtwg
: https://www.youtube.com/ATNTubeNews
Owned by : Multimedia Production Company
Slogan : অরিরাম বাংলার মুখ
Downlink Information : Thaicom 5, 76.5 degree East, 3669.75 MHz H
Nature of Business : Private Television (Electronic/Broadcast Media)
Programs of ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla is both an entertainment as well as a news channel. It broadcasts news every hour. This channel telecasts several programs according to the general public’s choice. Among the programs the popular ones are dramas, movies and talk shows. It telecasts special programs on special days like Bangla New Year, Valentine’s Day, International Mother Language Day, Independence Day, Victory Day, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Christmas, Buddha Purnima, Durgapuja etc. It telecasts religious programs like religious talk shows, Hamd Nath, recitation of Quran etc. throughout the whole of Ramadan along with the other regular scheduled broadcast day which is Friday. It telecasts Bangla Cinema every weekday. It also telecasts programs that represent Bengali culture, history, tradition, geography etc. to the national and international audiences. Every Friday it telecasts live health care programs. In this program a specialist doctor of any particular medical sector discusses health topics such as cardiology, brain problems, thyroid etc. It also telecasts cooking programs, debates, and deals with business related programs, sports events etc. as well. It broadcasts 16 Bengali news bulletins along with one English news bulletin which is telecast at 6:00 pm.
Major Departments of ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla has six major departments. These six departments work mutually and produce a successful program. The departments are-
1. Programmes Department: This department deals with the programming part. All the program related sections like producer, designer, camera, makeup, graphics, editing, presentation etc. are handled by this department. They offer new programs for the audiences on special days. They publish the programs’ details in newspapers like The Daily Star, The Prothom Alo etc. They maintain library and archives of ATN Bangla’s programs. This is the place where programs are stored. They re-telecast these programs if needed.
2. News and Current Affairs (NCA) Department: They handled news and current affars related materials are covered by this department.
3. Sales and Marketing Department: This department does the market analysis and research. It also handles the collection of advertisements. They make agreements with the advertising companies and agencies etc. and keep documentation of these agreements. They publicize new production houses by promoting their dramas, tele-films etc. through the ATN Bangla Channel.
4. Administration and Human Resources Department: This department basically maintains the management and human resources section. This department establishes the relationship with the other departments by providing human resources. They keep communicating with the departments to see if they need any employment for any suitable post. They publish “Recruitment Circular” for the related post in daily newspapers such as The DailyStar, The ProthomAlo etc.
5. Broadcast and Engineering Department: All the departments are interrelated, but this department is directly connected with the News and Current Affairs (NCA) Department. This department maintains the broadcast and on – air communication systems of this channel. PCR, MCR, Graphics room, editing panel etc. are controlled by this department.
6. Finance and Accounts Department: It works with the tax and vat, budget, accounts, the salary of the employees etc.
As all the departments are interrelated, so they work together and make every program and news watch-worthy. ATN Bangla is being telecasted 24/7 hours.
