Friday, May 28, 2010

Broadcasting in Bhutan

Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) on 6035 kHz shortwave

The 30 kW replacement transmitter at Sangaygang was regularly heard throughout Bhutan, although with many breaks. The 100 kW transmitter awaits repair by an Engineer from India. Heard in Bhutan at *0000-0050 and 1019-1240 UT, Apr 22-27, with many attempts to get on the air with the usual programmes of a Buddhist Morning Mass, Dzongkha talks and national songs. Heard on parallel 88.1, 96.0 and 98.0 FM. I took photos of the BBS Studio building and shortwave transmitting antenna.

BBS TV was studied at Phuntsho Pelri Hotel in Thimphu where I stayed. They signed on at 0000 UTC with a long Buddhist morning prayer similar to the broadcasts heard on FM parallel 6035 kHz, but not in parallel. On the screen was shown repeated films from a beautiful Bhutanese landscape with a temple and white monkeys. At 0030 an elderly Monk was seen reading the Tibetan texts in front of an audience of about 200 males and females sitting in rows on the floor. It ended at 0058 when a short religious dance was seen, followed by the morning news in Dzongkha.

This four star hotel offered satellite TV also with BBC World News in English, National Geographics, A Planet, Cartoon Network, Channel News Asia in English - and 53 Indian TV-Channels ! The diplomatic relations with China are very chilly, so no Chinese TV-programme was relayed!

Most better hotels offered access to the internet and in the biggest cities were several private Internet Cafes. (Petersen) {Anker on tour to Delhi, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan in April 2010} (Anker Petersen-DEN in India on tour, dswci DXW May 19/BC DX 965)