Bhutan Television

Description

This is the national TV channel from Bhutan

Known informally as BTV or Bhutan Television. Operating as a thread, it helps link across people within Bhutan through the provision of news, entertainment, distance learning programs, culture among others. Bhutan Television was the country’s first true national television channel when it began regular broadcasting.

History of Bhutan Television

Bhutan Television started in June 1999. Bhutan was one of the few places in the world without television before the initiation of BTV. Thus, the people in Bhutan could communicate and share information far more conveniently with the help of BTV.

The government ensured that television was introduced to the country after considering the peculiar culture and traditions of the nation. BTV has been increasing consistently since its inception. More shows have been added and its technology upgraded in order to get through to more people in Bhutan.

Bhutan Television informs the people of Bhutan about news and other related stuff that is much required by the population. It unites the nation by airing programs that exhibit Bhutan’s culture, language, and values.

Through programs on health, agriculture, and society, BTV extends the services of development and educational goals to the far reaches of the remotest citizens in the country. Even a man in a forlorn place may keep in touch and remain in contact with the world around him by television.

What is shown on Bhutan Television

Bhutan Television has many programs appealing to different tastes including:

• News shows on every day so that people can see what is happening around the US and the rest of the world and stay up to date with current events.
• Cultural Shows: Shows related to the culture of Bhutan like its folk songs, dances, festivals, and arts and crafts.
• Educational Content: Educational programs on various subjects in health, environment, agriculture, science, and technology certainly increase people's knowledge base.
• There is drama, film, music for all kinds of people at their entertainment shows.
• There are separate shows provided for children that can educate and amuse them.
• Sports: Watching neighborhood and global sports matches on television provokes the people to keep themselves fit and fosters a feel of pride for their country.

Broadcasting and Getting Out

Unlike today, in its nascent stage, Bhutan Television broadcasted only in a limited area. As of now, it reaches almost the entire nation through satellite and terrestrial transmission. Hence, even people living in some far-flung mountain village will be able to watch BTV and enjoy its programs.

It is a channel available not only in the capital city but also in rural areas, thereby making it truly national.

Problems of Bhutan Television

Similar to many other public broadcasters, Bhutan Television includes the following problems:

• Funding: As a channel under the control of the state, money from the government is its main source, and this can restrict it to a very large extent.
• Technology: The rapid changes in broadcasting technology require ever-increasing spending.
• Competition: The attention of viewers has become diversified. Bhutan Television now shares this attention with numerous other internet and satellite channels.
• Content Variety: Creating vast and diverse local content remains a challenge, limited by budget and skill availability.

Despite these constraints, BTV continues to improve and innovate to better cater to its audience.

What Bhutan Television does for Society

Bhutan Television has helped the society in a good way by:

• Transmission of Culture: the future generations will be able to inherit the legacy of Bhutan because traditional arts and cultural programs are telecasted.
• Education: Educational programs educate people over various social issues, such as health, and make them aware of it.
• Nationalism: As BTV shows what the Bhutanese people value and have done, it preserves and promotes national identity.

Television brings people together, making the sharing of news and stories, which everyone can relate to, especially so in a country of difficult geography.

As Bhutan grows, BTV’s role will keep escalating. It has to get more interactive giving viewers the opportunity to express themselves as well as participate.

Bhutan Television is in the process of trying to catch up with modern media. Varied activities are being carried out in order to improve digital broadcasting and make content available on the internet. This will allow BTV to reach out to the youth and Bhutanese living outside Bhutan.

Bhutan Television is much more than just a television channel in Bhutan; it is a medium that brings people of the mountains and the valleys together launched in 1999 as a local channel, which later converted into a national broadcaster. This channel informs the people about the history of Bhutan, makes people learn, makes people entertained and also brings in line with its culture.

Bhutan Television still remains committed to its people showing ‘The Land of the Thunder Dragon’ even in the face of troubles and new technologies.