State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Yaser Khan Chowdhury, announced on Tuesday that Bangladesh Television (BTV) has secured the broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup directly from FIFA for approximately Taka 63 crore, inclusive of VAT and taxes.

Under this agreement, the state-owned broadcaster will telecast all tournament matches live.

The State Minister disclosed the information during a press briefing held at the Secretariat.

Chowdhury stated that the arrangement to broadcast the World Cup on BTV was made in the public interest.

He added that alongside BTV, the matches will also be available through two private television channels, over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms, and mobile network operators.

Direct Negotiations Lead to Substantial Savings
The State Minister further highlighted that the broadcasting rights for the 2022 World Cup had cost nearly Taka 100 crore, which he termed as an "excessive expenditure."

He noted that the government managed to secure the rights at a significantly lower cost this time by engaging in direct negotiations with FIFA.

According to Chowdhury, the initial proposal for the broadcast rights was approximately Taka 200 crore.

However, the government rejected the initial bid and negotiated directly with FIFA to finalize the base price at Taka 47 crore, which totals roughly Taka 63 crore after incorporating VAT and applicable taxes.