Adventure Bhutan
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The Bhutan Broadcasting Service is the national radio and television service in
Bhutan. Run by the state, it is currently the only service to offer both radio and
television to the Kingdom, and is the only television service to broadcast from inside
the Bhutanese border.
Bhutan. Run by the state, it is currently the only service to offer both radio and
television to the Kingdom, and is the only television service to broadcast from inside
the Bhutanese border.
For many years, Bhutan did not have modern telecommunications. The first radio broadcasts commenced in November 1973, when the
National Youth Association of Bhutan (NYAB) began radio transmissions of news and music for a half-hour each Sunday, under the
name "Radio NYAB." The transmitter was first rented from a local telegraph office in Thimphu. The government took over Radio NYAB in
1979, and renamed it the Bhutan Broadcasting Service in 1986, with expansions in radio scheduling as well as construction of a modern
broadcast facility occurring in 1991.
As of April 2004, BBS FM radio service is available in 15 dzongkhags. Installation of FM transmitter in the rest of the 5 dzongkhags will be
completed by the end of the current five year plan. Radio service (NYAB radio) in Bhutan started in November 1973 in the initiation of
youths who formed National Youth Association of Bhutan (NYAB) led by a Royal female member. The station was operational only on
Sundays with 30 minutes of news in English and music. The NYAB club office was transformed to announcing studio on weekends and
increased to an hour a week after a few trial weeks. The 400-watt transmitter was rented from a local telegraph office. The station was
called Radio NYAB. In 1979, the Royal Government recognizing the importance of the radio for development communication, embraced
the station under the Ministry of Communications. Then it started three-hour programme on every Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday: 1.5
hours in Dzongkha, and 30 minutes each in Nepali (Lhotsamkha), Sarchopkha (Tshangla), and English. In 1986 Development Support
Communication Division (later changed to Development Communication Corporation) was set up to help in the development of media.
With the commissioning of a 10kw short-wave transmitter and a small broadcast studio, Radio NYAB was renamed as Bhutan
Broadcasting Service (BBS) in the same year. Daily broadcasting was introduced with three hours of programming that reflected the
national character. Radio was then controlled by BBS. BBS/DSCD worked jointly under MoC until 1992 when they were transformed to
corporation. In the same year UNESCO also provided BBS 10W SW transmitter. The radio transmission reached to most part of the
country. In 1991 radio station relocated to India sponsored new complex with 50w SW transmitter. Since then, its programmes reached
30 hours per week. To strengthen the radio service to al parts of the country, government initiated the establishment of FM station merely
means for relay of national broadcast. In 1987 local FM stations were set up in Thimphu with the aid of UNESCO. (96 and 98 MHz). In
1989-92 period DANIDA and UNESCO provided 1.14 million assistance for development of media in Bhutan. In March 1991 that BBS
acquired a permanent seat and a professional look with the commissioning of a 50kw short-wave transmitter station and a studio
complex-cum-office block. In June 2000, BBS introduced FM radio service for Western Bhutan as well with the inauguration of the main
FM station at Dobchula and yet another one at Takti in the south. The FM service was extended to central Bhutan in January 2001 and
plans are underway to cover the whole country by the end of the ninth five-year plan. At present broadcast, the radio has 12 hours
broadcast service including 1.5 hours traditional music only; 4.5 hours in Dzongkha, and 2 hours each in Nepali (Lhotsamkha),
Sarchhopkha and English.
Technical Information Short wave Radio: Transmitter Power: 50 KW SW Broadcast Transmitter: SK 45 F3 Broadcast Frequency: 49 meter
band 6035 KHZ
FM Network Dochula Main Station: Standby Reserve Configuration 1+1 KW Frequency: 88.1 MHz Areas served: Punakha, Gasa, Wangdi
Phodrang Frequency: 96 MHz: Areas served: Thimphu Takti Relay Station: 1 KW Frequency: 98 MHz Areas served: Chukha and Mongar
Yotula Relay Station: 1 KW Frequency: 93 MHz Frequency: 90 MHz Areas served: for parts of Trashigang & Mongar Areas served:
Bumthang, Trongsa Jabji Relay Station: 20 W Frequency: 92 MHz Areas served: Paro valley, Phuentsholing, Tsirang, Samtse and
Trashigang Kharbandi Relay Station: 20W And 49 mband 6035 KHz Shortwave(SW)v
Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) has seven-member National Editorial Board with 130 employees, 1/3 of them in administration
section. It controls radio, television and FMs. It was corporatized in 1992. Government provides all most all funds for its functioning. In
2004 sources, it generated 3% revenue from advertisement. There are very rare ads from private sectors, that also appear during the
King’s birthday, coronation anniversary, or the national day.
Apart from giving the daily news bulletin in four languages (Dzongkha, Sharchop, Lhotsamkha and English) in radio and in Dzongkha and
English on television, BBS devotes 75% of its programming on development issues such as new farming methods, health and hygiene,
environment preservation, distance education, rural development, women and child care.
Bhutan Broadcasting Service, established in 1973 and given its current name in 1986, operated under the auspices of the Department of
Information; it offered thirty hours a week of shortwave radio programming in Dzongkha, Sharchopkha, Nepali, and English. There was
daily FM programming in Thimphu and shortwave reception throughout the rest of the nation in the early 1990s. In 1991 there were thirty-
nine public radio stations for internal communications. There were also two stations used exclusively for communications with Bhutan's
embassies in New Delhi and Dhaka and thirteen stations used by hydrologists and meteorologists. There were no television stations in
Bhutan in the early 1990s, and a 1989 royal decree ended the viewing of foreign television by mandating the dismantling of antennas.
The government wanted to prevent Indian and Bangladeshi broadcasts from reaching Bhutan's citizens.
For a long time, Bhutan was the only nation in the world to ban television. The first night of television broadcasts finally occurred on June
2, 1999, on the night of the Jigme Singye Wangchuk's silver jubilee. Currently, television service is limited to the capital city. News,
documentaries, and entertainment programs were originally broadcast for three hours in the evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.), seven days a
week, but expanded to four hours (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) in December 2004. Most of the programming is aired in Dzongkha, but some current
events and news programs are also aired in English.
As of 2005, FM and shortwave radio service reaches about 75 percent of the country. The service plans to reach the rest of Bhutan by
2010.
National Youth Association of Bhutan (NYAB) began radio transmissions of news and music for a half-hour each Sunday, under the
name "Radio NYAB." The transmitter was first rented from a local telegraph office in Thimphu. The government took over Radio NYAB in
1979, and renamed it the Bhutan Broadcasting Service in 1986, with expansions in radio scheduling as well as construction of a modern
broadcast facility occurring in 1991.
As of April 2004, BBS FM radio service is available in 15 dzongkhags. Installation of FM transmitter in the rest of the 5 dzongkhags will be
completed by the end of the current five year plan. Radio service (NYAB radio) in Bhutan started in November 1973 in the initiation of
youths who formed National Youth Association of Bhutan (NYAB) led by a Royal female member. The station was operational only on
Sundays with 30 minutes of news in English and music. The NYAB club office was transformed to announcing studio on weekends and
increased to an hour a week after a few trial weeks. The 400-watt transmitter was rented from a local telegraph office. The station was
called Radio NYAB. In 1979, the Royal Government recognizing the importance of the radio for development communication, embraced
the station under the Ministry of Communications. Then it started three-hour programme on every Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday: 1.5
hours in Dzongkha, and 30 minutes each in Nepali (Lhotsamkha), Sarchopkha (Tshangla), and English. In 1986 Development Support
Communication Division (later changed to Development Communication Corporation) was set up to help in the development of media.
With the commissioning of a 10kw short-wave transmitter and a small broadcast studio, Radio NYAB was renamed as Bhutan
Broadcasting Service (BBS) in the same year. Daily broadcasting was introduced with three hours of programming that reflected the
national character. Radio was then controlled by BBS. BBS/DSCD worked jointly under MoC until 1992 when they were transformed to
corporation. In the same year UNESCO also provided BBS 10W SW transmitter. The radio transmission reached to most part of the
country. In 1991 radio station relocated to India sponsored new complex with 50w SW transmitter. Since then, its programmes reached
30 hours per week. To strengthen the radio service to al parts of the country, government initiated the establishment of FM station merely
means for relay of national broadcast. In 1987 local FM stations were set up in Thimphu with the aid of UNESCO. (96 and 98 MHz). In
1989-92 period DANIDA and UNESCO provided 1.14 million assistance for development of media in Bhutan. In March 1991 that BBS
acquired a permanent seat and a professional look with the commissioning of a 50kw short-wave transmitter station and a studio
complex-cum-office block. In June 2000, BBS introduced FM radio service for Western Bhutan as well with the inauguration of the main
FM station at Dobchula and yet another one at Takti in the south. The FM service was extended to central Bhutan in January 2001 and
plans are underway to cover the whole country by the end of the ninth five-year plan. At present broadcast, the radio has 12 hours
broadcast service including 1.5 hours traditional music only; 4.5 hours in Dzongkha, and 2 hours each in Nepali (Lhotsamkha),
Sarchhopkha and English.
Technical Information Short wave Radio: Transmitter Power: 50 KW SW Broadcast Transmitter: SK 45 F3 Broadcast Frequency: 49 meter
band 6035 KHZ
FM Network Dochula Main Station: Standby Reserve Configuration 1+1 KW Frequency: 88.1 MHz Areas served: Punakha, Gasa, Wangdi
Phodrang Frequency: 96 MHz: Areas served: Thimphu Takti Relay Station: 1 KW Frequency: 98 MHz Areas served: Chukha and Mongar
Yotula Relay Station: 1 KW Frequency: 93 MHz Frequency: 90 MHz Areas served: for parts of Trashigang & Mongar Areas served:
Bumthang, Trongsa Jabji Relay Station: 20 W Frequency: 92 MHz Areas served: Paro valley, Phuentsholing, Tsirang, Samtse and
Trashigang Kharbandi Relay Station: 20W And 49 mband 6035 KHz Shortwave(SW)v
Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) has seven-member National Editorial Board with 130 employees, 1/3 of them in administration
section. It controls radio, television and FMs. It was corporatized in 1992. Government provides all most all funds for its functioning. In
2004 sources, it generated 3% revenue from advertisement. There are very rare ads from private sectors, that also appear during the
King’s birthday, coronation anniversary, or the national day.
Apart from giving the daily news bulletin in four languages (Dzongkha, Sharchop, Lhotsamkha and English) in radio and in Dzongkha and
English on television, BBS devotes 75% of its programming on development issues such as new farming methods, health and hygiene,
environment preservation, distance education, rural development, women and child care.
Bhutan Broadcasting Service, established in 1973 and given its current name in 1986, operated under the auspices of the Department of
Information; it offered thirty hours a week of shortwave radio programming in Dzongkha, Sharchopkha, Nepali, and English. There was
daily FM programming in Thimphu and shortwave reception throughout the rest of the nation in the early 1990s. In 1991 there were thirty-
nine public radio stations for internal communications. There were also two stations used exclusively for communications with Bhutan's
embassies in New Delhi and Dhaka and thirteen stations used by hydrologists and meteorologists. There were no television stations in
Bhutan in the early 1990s, and a 1989 royal decree ended the viewing of foreign television by mandating the dismantling of antennas.
The government wanted to prevent Indian and Bangladeshi broadcasts from reaching Bhutan's citizens.
For a long time, Bhutan was the only nation in the world to ban television. The first night of television broadcasts finally occurred on June
2, 1999, on the night of the Jigme Singye Wangchuk's silver jubilee. Currently, television service is limited to the capital city. News,
documentaries, and entertainment programs were originally broadcast for three hours in the evening (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.), seven days a
week, but expanded to four hours (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) in December 2004. Most of the programming is aired in Dzongkha, but some current
events and news programs are also aired in English.
As of 2005, FM and shortwave radio service reaches about 75 percent of the country. The service plans to reach the rest of Bhutan by
2010.
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