Bangladesh’s first Test series in Australia in 23 years will not be carried by a local television channel, leaving digital streaming as the domestic viewing option for one of the national team’s most significant overseas assignments. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) international broadcast list names Tapmad for Bangladesh, while television networks feature in the distribution arrangements for several other South Asian markets.
The absence of a domestic TV partner marks a departure from the recent broadcast pattern for Bangladesh cricket, with T Sports and Nagorik TV having regularly shown the national team’s home and away series. Fans in Bangladesh will still be able to follow the two Tests online, meaning the situation is a shift to streaming rather than a complete broadcast blackout.
BCB learned of TV situation at a late stage
The board itself did not have advance confirmation that the series would go ahead without a Bangladeshi television broadcaster. A Bangladesh Cricket Board Official told The Daily Star: “Yes, that’s what we are seeing at the moment, but we have a list of some online portals which would be showing the matches.”
The BCB only became aware of the situation “at the last moment” on Wednesday, the official noted.
The circumstances behind the absence of local television coverage also remained unclear to the board. “We still don’t know the reason why the games won’t be shown,” the BCB official said.
Rights negotiations put Bangladesh market in focus
Because Australia is hosting the series, any Bangladeshi television network seeking to carry the matches would need to obtain the relevant rights from Cricket Australia or its rights-holders. The failure to secure a local TV deal puts attention on the commercial dynamics surrounding the Bangladesh cricket broadcast market.
BCB Media Committee Chairman Asif Rabbani told New Age: “We understand that channels from Bangladesh were trying to obtain the rights. We had no way of knowing that the negotiations hadn’t worked out until we saw the global broadcasters’ list late last [Wednesday] night.”
The board was not directly involved in those discussions with local broadcasters. ‘I am not aware of any channel approaching or informing us of this situation,’ Rabbani added.
There is precedent for a cricket board becoming involved when an overseas series faces television distribution difficulties in Bangladesh. In 2023, the England and Wales Cricket Board made a financial contribution to television channels for coverage of England’s away white-ball series in the country, while also making the matches available through its own platforms.
Bangladesh make history in series opener
The unusual broadcast situation has coincided with a landmark result for Bangladesh, who won the opening Test by nine wickets in four days to secure their first Test victory in Australia in only their third match in the country. After dismissing Australia for 198, Bangladesh made 426 to establish a 228-run first-innings advantage before bowling the hosts out for 284 in their second innings.
Hasan Mahmood was named Player of the Match after taking nine wickets across the two innings, including 6 for 55 in the first. Bangladesh then chased their 57-run target in the 15th over with nine wickets in hand, completing the breakthrough victory considerably earlier in their history of touring Australia than India or Pakistan, while Sri Lanka remain without a Test win in the country.
Tapmad becomes Bangladesh’s viewing option
The distribution arrangements published by the BCB show a notably different picture elsewhere in South Asia. India has Star Sports and JioHotstar, Pakistan has Ten Sports and Tapmad, and Sri Lanka has Star Sports through Dialog and SLT alongside Supreme TV. Star Sports is also listed for Nepal and for the Maldives through Medianet, while Bhutan has Star Sports.
For Bangladesh, however, Tapmad stands alone on the BCB’s list. The two-Test tour will therefore reach viewers in the country through streaming without a domestic television channel carrying the series.
