Duronto TV
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel focused on children's programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Duronto TV is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language children's television channel distributed through satellite and cable systems. It is widely described as Bangladesh's first dedicated Bengali-language children's channel. The service is owned by Barind Media Limited, a subsidiary of Renaissance Group, and combines locally produced live-action programmes with acquired and dubbed international animation, films, educational series, entertainment formats and family programming. The project originated in November 2013, when Bangladesh's telecommunications regulator granted Barind Media Limited a licence for a children's channel under the working name Renaissance TV. The channel received its frequency allocation in January 2015 and was subsequently renamed Duronto TV, a Bengali expression associated with restlessness, energy and youthful activity. Before launch, the channel joined four other Bangladeshi television services in a July 2017 agreement with UNICEF to broadcast a short children's message or programme segment each day. Duronto began test transmissions on 5 October 2017. Its logo, featuring the Bengali wordmark beside a computer-generated tiger, was unveiled at an event in Dhaka on the same day. Official broadcasting began on 15 October 2017. The launch positioned the channel as a locally relevant alternative to international children's networks, with Bengali-language content designed for children and families in Bangladesh. Its schedule initially combined domestic live-action shows with foreign animated programmes and later expanded through recurring programming seasons. The channel's local output covers comedy, drama, puppetry, science, sport, travel, history, culture, language learning, family life and religious or seasonal programming. Examples include Bhulostein, a science-oriented series; The English Club, which supports English-language learning; Duronto Cricket; Cholo Jai Jai Jai, focused on travel within Bangladesh; Khatta Mitha, a puppetry programme; and Mastermind Family Bangladesh, a locally adapted quiz format licensed through a BBC arrangement. Duronto has also carried programmes made in cooperation with public-interest organisations, including Shorno Chef, a cooking programme developed by Bangladesh's Health Ministry and UNICEF for young chefs. Acquired programming has remained an important part of the schedule. The channel has broadcast Bengali-dubbed international animation and family entertainment, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Bob the Builder, The Smurfs, Paw Patrol, The Garfield Show, Dora the Explorer, Top Wing, The Adventures of Tintin and other series. It has also shown selected films, including the first three Home Alone films in October 2018 and a group of Iranian films in late 2021. The schedule is periodically refreshed through numbered seasons, allowing the channel to introduce new local productions, licensed series and special formats. Duronto TV experienced a temporary interruption on 28 March 2019 after a fire at FR Tower in Banani, Dhaka. The channel, together with the unrelated radio station Radio Today, was taken off the air temporarily and later resumed transmission. Despite the interruption, Duronto continued developing its programming identity and received the Best TV Program (Kids) award at the Bangladesh Media Innovation Awards in 2022. In November 2023, it premiered Kutu Bhutu, identified as its first original animated series. Later seasonal lineups continued to add international animated series and locally branded formats, including Duronto Family and Bolo To Dekhi. Duronto TV remains an active Bangladeshi children's media brand whose proposition rests on Bengali-language accessibility, local cultural relevance and a mix of original, commissioned, licensed and dubbed programming.
History
Duronto TV was conceived as a dedicated Bangladeshi children's channel. In November 2013, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission licensed Barind Media Limited to operate a children's service under the name Renaissance TV. The company received frequency allocation in January 2015, and the planned service was later renamed Duronto TV. In July 2017, before the channel went live, Duronto and four other Bangladeshi television channels signed an agreement with UNICEF to broadcast a one-minute children's programme or message. Test broadcasting began on 5 October 2017, when the channel also presented its tiger-based logo at an event in Dhaka. Official broadcasting followed on 15 October. The launch established Duronto as the first Bengali-language children's television channel in Bangladesh. The initial schedule paired locally produced live-action shows with acquired animation. Duronto then organised programming into numbered seasons, using each season to introduce new local productions and international acquisitions. Early additions included Bhuter Baksho, Adbhut, Shohor Theke Dure, Panchabhuj and Khatta Mitha, alongside animated series such as Justin Time, Spike Team, Bob the Builder and Rainbow Ruby. In October 2018, the channel expanded its film offering by showing the first three Home Alone films. During 2019, Duronto added major licensed and locally relevant content. SpongeBob SquarePants began airing in April, Sisimpur joined the schedule in July, and a BBC-linked Bangladeshi adaptation of Mastermind, titled Mastermind Family Bangladesh, premiered in October. Later seasons added a broad mix of animation, drama, science, sport, language education and family entertainment. The channel also developed Ramadan and other seasonal programming, including a children's cooking show and a quiz programme about Islam. On 28 March 2019, a fire at FR Tower in Banani, Dhaka caused a temporary interruption to Duronto TV's transmission. The service was later restored. Duronto continued to build its schedule through the 2020 and 2021 seasons, adding programmes such as Boka Bhoot, Pororo the Little Penguin, Yakari, The Adventures of Tintin, Bhulostein, Kattush Kuttush, Laal Kohinoor, Martin Morning, Zigby, The Penguins of Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Dora the Explorer and educational series including The English Club and Banan Maane Spelling. It also premiered five Iranian films between 28 November and 2 December 2021. In 2022, the channel introduced Shorno Chef, developed by Bangladesh's Health Ministry and UNICEF for young chefs, and continued adding local drama and international animation. Duronto won the Best TV Program (Kids) award at the Bangladesh Media Innovation Awards in September 2022. Its first original animated series, Kutu Bhutu, premiered on 3 November 2023. Subsequent seasons continued to refresh the schedule with both licensed animation and branded local formats. The channel's overall development reflects a hybrid model: local Bengali production and cultural programming are used to establish identity, while international rights and Bengali dubbing broaden the volume and variety of children's content.
- 2023
First original animated series
[1]Kutu Bhutu premiered as Duronto TV's first original animated production.
- 2022
Children's television award
[1]Duronto TV won the Best TV Program (Kids) award at the Bangladesh Media Innovation Awards.
- 2019
Mastermind Family Bangladesh premieres
[1]A Bangladeshi version of the Mastermind format premiered through a BBC licensing arrangement.
- 2017
Test broadcasts begin
[1]Duronto TV began test transmissions on 5 October.
- 2017
Official launch
[1]The channel officially started broadcasting on 15 October.
- 2015
Frequency allocated
[1]The planned channel received its frequency allocation before launch.
- 2013
Children's television licence granted
[1]Barind Media Limited received a BTRC licence for a children's channel initially known as Renaissance TV.
Products and positioning
A Bengali-language children's television destination combining Bangladeshi original programming with acquired international animation, educational content and family entertainment.
Original television programming · 2017
Local live-action programming
Duronto's locally produced live-action slate covers comedy, drama, puppetry, science, travel, sport, culture and family life. Representative titles include Bhuter Baksho, Adbhut, Shohor Theke Dure, Panchabhuj, Khatta Mitha, Duronto Cricket, Bhulostein, Dui e Dui e Char and Elating Belating.
Educational television · 2017
Educational and public-interest programming
The channel carries programmes intended to support learning and social development, including The English Club, Banan Maane Spelling, science-oriented Bhulostein and Shorno Chef, a children's cooking programme developed with Bangladesh's Health Ministry and UNICEF.
Licensed animation · 2017
Acquired animated programming
A substantial part of the schedule consists of foreign animated series adapted for Bengali-speaking viewers. The channel has carried titles including SpongeBob SquarePants, Bob the Builder, The Smurfs, Paw Patrol, Dora the Explorer, Top Wing, The Garfield Show, The Adventures of Tintin and other international children's properties.
Quiz show · 2019
Mastermind Family Bangladesh
Mastermind Family Bangladesh is a localized version of the Mastermind quiz format produced through a licensing arrangement with the BBC. It brought a structured general-knowledge competition format to Duronto's Bengali-language children's and family schedule.
Original animated series · 2023
Kutu Bhutu
Kutu Bhutu is Duronto TV's first original animated series. The programme centres on the comic conflicts and adventures of a dog and a squirrel, using slapstick-style storytelling aimed at young viewers.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017UNICEF children's programming agreement
Bangladesh
Before launch, Duronto TV joined four other Bangladeshi television channels in an agreement with UNICEF to air a one-minute children's programme or message each day.
Outcome. The agreement linked the new channel to a child-focused public-interest broadcasting initiative.
Brand decisions
2023
Introduce original animationProduct launchBackground
After years of combining local live action with acquired animation, Duronto expanded its original production profile.
Action taken
The channel premiered Kutu Bhutu as its first original animated series.
Aftermath
The launch marked a move toward a broader locally owned children's content catalogue.
2019
Expand licensed and localized programmingStrategyBackground
Duronto used its seasonal programming structure to broaden its appeal beyond locally produced shows.
Action taken
The channel added SpongeBob SquarePants, Sisimpur and the BBC-linked Mastermind Family Bangladesh.
Aftermath
The schedule developed a hybrid identity combining Bengali originals, local adaptations and international properties.
2017
Launch a Bengali-language children's television serviceProduct launchBackground
The licensed project had progressed from frequency allocation to operational broadcasting.
Action taken
Duronto began test broadcasts on 5 October and official broadcasts on 15 October.
Aftermath
The channel established a schedule combining local live-action content and acquired animation.
2013
Plan a dedicated Bengali children's channelStrategyBackground
Bangladesh had no dedicated Bengali-language children's television service when the project was licensed.
Action taken
Barind Media Limited obtained a licence for a children's channel, initially using the name Renaissance TV.
Aftermath
The project was later renamed Duronto TV and launched in 2017.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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