Bangladesh pulls plug on foreign channels

Bangladesh has ordered eight foreign satellite TV stations off air because of alleged 'cultural infiltration'.

The music networks MTV and Channel V were banned until further notice, together with six movie or entertainment services HBO, MGM, Hallmark, AXN, Star Movies and Star World.

The cable operators also agreed to stop broadcasting a number of free-to-air foreign channels, including Italy's RAI, Russia's PTP and Spain's TVE.

Bangladesh's Information Minister, Tariqul Islam, told the broadcasters that more networks could be banned or blocked, depending on public demand. Bangladesh is the world's third largest country with a Muslim majority.

Islamist parties are junior members in the coalition government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service