YK Poudel

Bhutan Broadcasting Service formally launched its high-definition (HD) transmission yesterday after the successful completion of its two-month trial.  

BBS Chief Executive Officer, Kaka Tshering, said, “Earlier, BBS with standard definition (SD) transmission faced challenges of quality visuals and audio. Now, the viewers can experience HD quality footage and better audio-visuals.”

He said that the majority of Bhutanese TV viewers have smart TV-set that supports HD services. 

The project worth  Nu 250 million was funded by the Government of India. 

Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela, said, “The Government of India shall remain and provide the necessary support to complete the project.”

The HD transmission project was divided into two main phases, of which the first phase of procuring equipment and setting up infrastructure has been completed. 

The officiating chief engineer of BBS, Thiney Dorji, said that the project was approved in 2021 and began with the installation of two studios to facilitate high-quality production and broadcasting of content in high-definition and central apparatus rooms were set up to manage the broadcasting equipment effectively. 

The project, he said, followed with the installation of transmission control rooms, master control room establishment and setting up of efficient and reliable live signal transmission.

The procurement of an outside broadcasting van, setting up the virtual studio, and archive system, which is the second phase of the project, are in progress. 

Kaka Tshering said that the pandemic has posed the challenge of cost which has delayed the completion of radio automation. “With inflation, the equipment charges were high posing a threat to the particular component of the project.”