Media of Bhutan
Encyclopedia
The various media of Bhutan have historically been government-controlled, although this has changed in recent years. The country has its own newspapers, television and radio broadcasters and Internet Service Providers.
, a newspaper of a government-owned corporation, circulates six days a week in Dzongkha and English. Beginning in April 2006, it competes with the Bhutan Times
, Bhutan's first government-authorized privately owned newspaper. In late 2006, another private newspaper, the Bhutan Observer
began publication. The Bhutan Today
, an English daily newspaper launched in October 2008.In late September of 2009, the first Financial Newspaper of Bhutan was launched with the name Business Bhutan. On December 17, 2009, a monthly news magazine called the Drukpa was launched followed by another weekly English newspaper The Journalist. The Drukpa aims to go beyond criticism and sensationalism but go into investigative journalism as well.
People working in media in Bhutan receive short term journalism training from Britain, The Netherlands, India and Singapore.
was established in 1973 as a radio service, broadcasting in short wave nationally, and on the FM
band in Thimphu. The service started television broadcasts in 1999, making Bhutan the last country in the world to introduce television. As part of the King's modernization program, cable television
was introduced shortly after. By 2002, however, the crime rate had increased appreciably, and the introduction of cable television is alleged to be responsible for the spurt in crime.
users, 25,200 landline
subscribers, and 23,000 mobile phone
subscribers.
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche
is a well-known filmmaker, who produced and directed The Cup and Travellers and Magicians
. While The Cup was shot in a Tibetan monastery in northern India, Travellers and Magicians was the first feature film to be filmed entirely in Bhutan, with a cast consisting entirely of Bhutanese people. No professional actors were used in either film.
Journalism
The KuenselKuensel
Kuensel is the national newspaper of Bhutan. It was the only local newspaper available in Bhutan until 2006 when two more newspapers were launched. The government of Bhutan owns 51 percent of Kuensel while 49 percent is held by the public.-History:...
, a newspaper of a government-owned corporation, circulates six days a week in Dzongkha and English. Beginning in April 2006, it competes with the Bhutan Times
Bhutan Times
The Bhutan Times is Bhutan's first privately owned newspaper, and only the second in the country after the government owned and autonomous Kuensel...
, Bhutan's first government-authorized privately owned newspaper. In late 2006, another private newspaper, the Bhutan Observer
Bhutan Observer
The Bhutan Observer is Bhutan's first private bilingual newspaper. It was launched as a private limited company by parent company Bhutan Media Services , and began publishing on June 2, 2006, in Thimphu...
began publication. The Bhutan Today
Bhutan Today
Bhutan Today, published in Thimphu, is the fourth English language newspaper published in Bhutan. It was launched in October 2008....
, an English daily newspaper launched in October 2008.In late September of 2009, the first Financial Newspaper of Bhutan was launched with the name Business Bhutan. On December 17, 2009, a monthly news magazine called the Drukpa was launched followed by another weekly English newspaper The Journalist. The Drukpa aims to go beyond criticism and sensationalism but go into investigative journalism as well.
People working in media in Bhutan receive short term journalism training from Britain, The Netherlands, India and Singapore.
Radio and television
The Bhutan Broadcasting ServiceBhutan Broadcasting Service
The Bhutan Broadcasting Service is the national radio and television service in Bhutan. A public service corporation, it is fully funded by the State and 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...
was established in 1973 as a radio service, broadcasting in short wave nationally, and on the FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
band in Thimphu. The service started television broadcasts in 1999, making Bhutan the last country in the world to introduce television. As part of the King's modernization program, cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
was introduced shortly after. By 2002, however, the crime rate had increased appreciably, and the introduction of cable television is alleged to be responsible for the spurt in crime.
Electronic media
Bhutan has about 15,000 InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
users, 25,200 landline
Landline
A landline was originally an overland telegraph wire, as opposed to an undersea cable. Currently, landline refers to a telephone line which travels through a solid medium, either metal wire or optical fibre, as distinguished from a mobile cellular line, where transmission is via radio waves...
subscribers, and 23,000 mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
subscribers.
Film
"Gasa Lamai Singye" was the first film movie made by Ugyen Wangdi the founder of the Country's fledgling cinema in 1989. The Bhutanese lamaLama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche , also known as Khyentse Norbu, is a Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and writer. His two major films are The Cup and Travellers and Magicians . He is the author of the book What Makes You Not a Buddhist...
is a well-known filmmaker, who produced and directed The Cup and Travellers and Magicians
Travellers and Magicians
Travellers and Magicians is a 2003 Bhutanese Dzongkha language film written and directed by Khyentse Norbu, a reincarnate lama of Tibetan Buddhism, who is also known as Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche. The movie is the first feature film shot entirely in the kingdom of Bhutan...
. While The Cup was shot in a Tibetan monastery in northern India, Travellers and Magicians was the first feature film to be filmed entirely in Bhutan, with a cast consisting entirely of Bhutanese people. No professional actors were used in either film.