Japan enhances BBS ability to broadcast live
Filed under News
18 August: The Bhutan broadcasting service corporation (BBS) yesterday received equipment worth Nu 300 million from the Japanese government under the grant aid, “Project for the improvement of equipment of BBS”.
The grant includes the most expensive van, equipped with cameras, satellite and sound system (satellite news gathering (SNG) van) that will enable live coverage of news and programmes costing around Nu 150m. The other Nu 150m is in the form of equipment like master control, power supply, transmission, news, programme production, studio and maintenance systems, said the chief engineer of BBS, Rajesh Kafley.
He said the whole project comprised five components, SNG van that will drive the equipment anywhere and give live coverage, master control room, from which all audio and video signals would be controlled, production equipment, which is equipped with cameras, editing sets and sound system, field pickup unit, a device that will give live coverage and maintenance equipment.
At the handing-taking ceremony, managing director of BBS, Pema Choden, said, with the new equipment, BBS will have the capacity to bring live news and programmes on a regular basis from regional bureaus in Kanglung, Trashigang, Bumthang, Paro, Phuentsholing and Wangdiphodrang. “Longer news and programmes are recorded on tape and brought to Thimphu by public transport, taking up to three to four days. With this system now, the problems will be addressed.”
The MD said that the grant has given BBS and its staff an opportunity to reach out to the Bhutanese people, to fulfill their mandate as a public service broadcaster, by bringing timely news and programmes.
The minister councillor of Japan, Keizo Takewaka, said the Japan government would give additional assistance to BBS for wider, quality and timely news coverage for a successful democracy.
The state broadcaster received major assistance from Japan, starting from skills enhancement to equipment building and human resource development to capacity building. Each year, the Japanese government sends around six to eight media experts to BBS, and six to eight BBS staff, consisting of reporters, producers and technical persons are sent to Japan for a short-term course under the Japanese fellowship programme.
source: kuensel
