Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia has expressed hts concern over what is seen as an invasion of west-based satellite television networks of the Asian region. Dr Mahathir's criticism has specifically referred to the acquisition of majority snares by the News Corporation of Australian-born American. Rupert Murdoch tn the Star-TV which has a wide exposure These shares are being bought from a Hong Kong-based British-Chinese company

The concern of the Malaysian leader focuses on two interlinked issues which are being closely studied by media experts tn different countries In the first place, the growth of monopolies and cartels. in which the News Corp of Murdoch has a staggeringly high position, has come under strong criticisms from independent media organisations Many of these criticisms also reflect the concern of several European governments, with some of them looking at some regulatory options, wtth limited success Many of these cartels have been also tightening their grip on the print media, tn several industrialised countries, especially Britain. Germany. Australia and the United States. This poses a serious threat to mid-level newspapers which cannot generate the kind of massive cash, rather bank loans, which cartels can use for buying high technology

The alarm sounded by Mahathir is well-founded. On the other hand, with programmes of Star-TV and CNN shown by the Bangladesh Television (BTV). for a limited period — viewers with their own satellite dish can see them, and other, programmes almost round the clock — the exposure of our audience to foreign news, views and documentaries is welcome. The costing of the exercise, to Bangladesh or. for that matter, to Star-TV and CNN. however, remains virtually unknown.

At the same time, there Is little doubt that more and more viewers in Bangladesh — and a far greater number in other countries — have been spending an Increasing amount of time watching foreign networks. That some of these programmes are primarily geared to the cultural taste of the western audience — and to that extent, unsuitable to people in the developing world — has been emphasised by media experts In the West, in some cases, by studies conducted by UNESCO.

While we go along with the concern of the Malaysian leader, we believe that we should not look for simplistic and regulatory answers to deal with the so-called invasion of our electronic media by foreign networks. Instead of introducing restrictions wnich hinder free flow of infosmation and drastically limit the choice of our viewers, we. in Bangladesh, should work out guidelines, if we have any choice, on the contents and presentations of programmes presented by satellite networks.

The real answer Ues in local television networks, tn Bangladesh as much as In Malaysia, facing up to the challenge offered by the CNN. Star-Tv and other foreign networks. We have to bring about qualitative improvement in our TV news coverage, in content and presentation — we have made this points again ana again — while we should Identify more topical issues for our documentaries. In this area, some progress is visible. However, a great 4eal still remains to be done. Again, there is clear need, more urgent than many people would agree, to increase the number of locally-produced programmes in English, in discussion programmes, press conferences and documentaries, for the benefit of our English-knowing public, foreigners as well as local. It will be a long haul to win back this untapped audience for BTV. However, a start can be made now — the sooner the better. We are in no position to do anything about the acquisition of equity participation of Star-TV by Murdoch. But we can — and must — do something with the network which is our own — BTV.