Bangladesh Television (BTV) has acquired the broadcasting rights for the upcoming FIFA World Cup at a significantly lower cost than previous tournaments, with the deal finalized at Tk47.25 crore, according to State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury.
Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the minister said the state-owned broadcaster would not have to finance the cost from its own resources, as a large portion of the expenditure has already been recovered through the sale of broadcasting rights and advertising arrangements.
Officials said the agreement was reached after direct negotiations with FIFA, following the government`s decision not to accept an earlier proposal from an intermediary company that reportedly sought nearly Tk200 crore for the Bangladesh broadcasting rights.
Yasser Khan said the government considered that offer unreasonable and opted to pursue talks directly with FIFA. As part of the process, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting worked closely with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and its president, Tabith Awal.
He described the negotiations as lengthy and complex, ultimately resulting in a deal that allows football fans across Bangladesh to watch the World Cup live through BTV.
According to the minister, the final rights agreement was signed for US$3.85 million, equivalent to around Tk47.25 crore. Including VAT and income tax, the total value of the contract stands at approximately Tk63.79 crore.
The minister also noted that several organizations have already purchased World Cup broadcasting rights from BTV. These include television broadcasters T Sports and Somoy TV, mobile operators Grameenphone, Banglalink and Robi, as well as OTT platform iScreen.
Youth and Sports State Minister Md Aminul Haque and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Zahed Ur Rahman were present at the briefing.
Yasser Khan said the arrangement reflects the government`s commitment to transparency and accountability while ensuring nationwide access to one of the world`s most watched sporting events.
