The Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy invites you to a forum on

The Potential of Broadcasting in Bhutan

In an age of rapid media expansion, we invite you to join us to discuss the potential of broadcasting in Bhutan. As the government incites applications to start new TV stations, and the number of radio stations and websites are growing, here’s an opportunity to take stock of what is happening in Bhutan and learn from examples elsewhere.

• What is the potential of broadcasting for small countries with limited resources?
• What kind of audiovisual content does Bhutan need?
• How many radio/TV stations can Bhutan sustain?
• What are the challenges of broadcasting in a 24/7 world?
• How can broadcasting and the web enhance democracy?
• What is the future of broadcasting in Bhutan?

About the speakers:

Elizabeth Smith, OBE (Order of British Empire)

She is committed to the support of Public Service Broadcasting. She was:

• Secretary General of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA), 1994 to 2010.
• Former producer and Head of Current Affairs, World Service, BBC Radio and TV
• Elizabeth no runs a consultancy Transforming Broadcasting and is writing a booklet on how broadcasters can be transformed from state to public service broadcasters. She has consulted on Public Service broadcasting in Namibia and on Fair Election Coverage in Lesotho.
• Elizabeth is a Fellow of the Radio Academy and was awarded an O.B.E. for services to broadcasting in the commonwealth.

Representative from MoIC

Ministry of Information and Communications is a Government agency that formulates and implements policies, drafts legislation and acts on behalf of the Government on the matters related to ICT and Media, Surface transport and Civil Aviation.

Representative from the BBSC

Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation is the nation’s public service broadcaster set up in 1986 after renaming the erstwhile ratio station NYAB which was established in 1973. BBS is Bhutan’s first and only TV broadcaster (started in 1999)

Wangay Dorji, Head of Telecom, BICMA

Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority is an independent, autonomous regulatory body for the ICT, telecommunications services, media services like cable TV, films, broadcasting and printing press, assignment and management of radio communication’s frequencies spectrum.

Kinley Wangchuk, CEO, radio Valley

Radio Valley is the first privately owned radio station in Bhutan that lunched in April 2007. The FM radio station covers the whole of Thimphu valley and is an entertainment/ music station broadcasting in Dzongkha.