 | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Banani,Dhaka |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080iHDTV(downscaled to16:9576i forSDTV sets) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Barind Media Limited |
| History | |
| Launched | 5 October 2017; 7 years ago (2017-10-05) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Duronto TV (Bengali:দুরন্ত টিভি;lit. 'restless TV')[1] is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable children's television channel, and the first of its kind in the country. It was initially licensed in 2013 as "Renaissance TV",[2][3] but was later renamed to its current name. The channel began test broadcasts on 5 October 2017, and later commenced official broadcasts ten days later on 15 October 2017.[4][5]
Duronto TV is the first Bengali-language children's television channel. The director of the channel is Abhijit Chowdhury, along with Quazi Shahidul Islam being the head of broadcast operations and engineering, Minhaz Uddin being the head of sales and marketing, and Sunjida Siddique Sumona being the head of programme. It is owned by Barind Media Limited, a subsidiary of Renaissance Group.[6] Duronto TV's programming consists of live action, usually local, and animated shows, usually foreign.
In November 2013, theBangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) granted Barind Media Limited a license to broadcast "Renaissance TV", which would be Bangladesh's first children's oriented television channel.[2] However, over time, the channel was renamed to Duronto TV. The channel received its frequency allocation in January 2015.[7] Before its launch, in July 2017, Duronto TV, along with four other television channels in Bangladesh, signed an agreement withUNICEF to air children's programming for one minute.[8]
On 5 October 2017, Duronto TV began broadcasting as the first Bengali-language children's television channel. Its logo, consisting of the Bengali text, "দুরন্ত", next to a CGI-animated tiger, was also unveiled that day at thePan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka. Bangladesh's then minister of information,Hasanul Haq Inu, had stated that Bangladesh was behind in many sectors, and a television channel specifically for children was in need so they can bring the country ahead in the future.[9][10] The channel officially began broadcasting on 15 October of that year.[6]
The channel's initial programming line consisted of local live action shows alongside animated programming. Over time, more programming got added to the channel, by grouping them as 'seasons', such as with 'Season 2' that debuted on 14 January 2018.[11] On 15 April 2018, Duronto's third season debuted, with the premiere of local shows, such asBhuter Baksho andAdbhut, and acquired animated shows such asJustin Time andSpike Team.[12] On 15 July 2018, Duronto's fourth season debuted, with the premiere of three local shows, which areShohor Theke Dure,Panchabhuj, andKhatta Mitha, and animated shows such asAlisa Knows What to Do!,Bob the Builder,Messy Goes to OKIDO, andRainbow Ruby.[13]
The channel aired the first three films from theHome Alone film series in October 2018.[14] On 14 April 2019, the popularNickelodeon television series,SpongeBob SquarePants, debuted on Duronto TV, as a part of its seventh season.[15][16]Sisimpur began airing on Duronto in July 2019.[17]BBC signed a licensing deal with Duronto TV for a localized version ofMastermind titledMastermind Family Bangladesh, which premiered on 13 October 2019, as a part of the channel's ninth season which debuted on the same day.[18][19] On 12 January 2020, its tenth season debuted, with the premiere of shows such asThe Magic Roundabout,Mini Ninjas, andThe Garfield Show.[20]
Duronto's twelfth season debuted on 12 July 2020, with the premiere ofAnimesh Aich'sBoka Bhoot, along with animated showsPororo the Little Penguin andYakari.[21] On 11 October 2020, Duronto's thirteenth season began with the premiere ofThe Adventures of Tintin,The Minimghty Kids,Bobby and Bill, andFlorrie's Dragons on the channel.[22] On 10 January 2021, Duronto's fourteenth season debuted, with the premiere of three local shows, which areBhulostein,Kattush Kuttush, andLaal Kohinoor, and two animated shows, which areMartin Morning andZigby.[23]
On 1 March 2021,The Penguins of Madagascar andKung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness debuted on the channel, as a part of its fifteenth season which debuted on 11 April.[24][25] The channel's sixteenth season debuted on 1 August 2021, with the premiere ofRolie Polie Olie,Dora the Explorer,Top Wing, andFranklin and Friends.[26] On 1 November 2021, Duronto's seventeenth season debuted, with the premiere of two educational series,The English Club andBanan Maane Spelling.[27] From 28 November to 2 December 2021, Duronto TV had premiered five Iranian films.[28]
On 30 January 2022, Duronto TV's eighteenth season debuted, with the premiere of two Nickelodeon animated seriesBlaze and the Monster Machines,Bubble Guppies, and others.[29] In March 2022,Bangladesh's Health Ministry andUNICEF developed a cooking show for young chefs titledShorno Chef, which premiered on the channel.[30] On 1 May 2022, Duronto TV's nineteenth season debuted, with the premiere of two new drama series,Dui e Dui e Char andElating Belating, and Nickelodeon animated seriesPaw Patrol.[31] Duronto TV won the Best TV Program (Kids) award at the Bangladesh Media Innovation Awards 2022 held in September 2022.[32] The twenty-first season of Duronto TV debuted on 30 October, with the premiere of shows such asMojar Kando Taekwondo,Dadur Jadoo, andThe Smurfs.[33] The channel premiered its first original animated series titledKutu Bhutu on 3 November 2023.[34]
As a result of a fire breaking out at the FR Tower in Banani, Dhaka, Duronto TV, along with the unrelated radio stationRadio Today, were both temporarily taken off the air on 28 March 2019.[35][36] Both later resumed transmissions over time.[37]
Duronto TV's programming mainly consists of shows relating to drama, historical, cultural, travel, magic, science, sports, family, and others. Alongside local programming, which is mostly live action, the channel's lineup also features acquired foreign television series and films, mainly Hollywood and animated, dubbed inBengali, such asSpongeBob SquarePants,Despicable Me 2, and others.[38] It also airs special programs during certain occasions, such as the cooking show,Banai Iftar Ma-Baba Ar Ami, and quiz show regarding Islam,Janar Ache Onek Kichu, both being aired during the holy month ofRamadan.[39] It broadcasts the national anthem of Bangladesh,Amar Shonar Bangla, everyday during mornings, before moving onto its regular schedule.[40]
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