The inauguration of the new main studio of the News Centre and the opening of the private radio studios building add a new milestone to the ongoing development of the radio and television sector in Bahrain
This is the outcome of the continuous support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in order to further advance the status of national media, based on a vision supporting freedom of opinion and expression as part of the comprehensive development process in Bahrain.
The opening of the new state-of-the-art facilities also reflects HM the King’s belief in the contribution of national media to driving development and democratic achievements by its informative role and awareness-raising influence.
The royal support has contributed to strengthening the status of Bahrain TV and its engagement with the audience through its coverage of landmark events and developments in the country, making it present in the collective memory of the society.
The opening of the News Centre’s new main studio at the Information Ministry’s complex also consolidates the position of Bahrain TV as one of the most prestigious media establishments in the region, given the fact that the project is the largest of its kind at the level of official channels in the region.
The high-tech studio is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology and modern equipement to accommodate rapid developments in media production, which would tranform the layout of news bulletins and programmes.
This inauguration of the new studio coincides with the resolution of the 33rd regular session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers, held in Rabat in June, to designate "Manama as the capital of Arab media 2024".
The Arab decision reflects the extent of appreciation and respect enjoyed by the national media regionally and internationally. It also underscores the keenness of the kingdom’s leadership to promote Bahraini media and its national message..
Since its inception, Bahrain TV has reflected the culture, identity and ongoing progress of Bahrain and its people.
It has adopted a professional national media appproach that supports the nation-building process and defends the kingdom’s achievements, sovereignty and gains.
The history of television in Bahrain dates back to the 1970s, with the launch of the first coloured television in the Arabian Gulf through the joint Bahraini-American Private Radio and Television Company (RTV), which began broadcasting on September 9, 1973. as an investment business channel. The Government of Bahrain used to own 20% of the channel.
In 1975, the Ministry of Information acquired RTV channel, and turned it into a fully-owned official Bahraini state television, which bore Bahrain's flag as its logo.
Bahrain, which used to have only one TV station in 1975, now has five, namely Bahrain TV, Bahrain International, Bahrain Sports TV 1, Bahrain Sports TV 2 and the Holy Quran TV.
Over the past 50 years, Bahrain TV has covered various landmark events in the kingdom. It promoted the cultural and literary movement, through drama and cultural works that linked society to the national identity and heritage. As a result, it has succeeded in reflecting the national values, customs and traditions, as well as in contributing to consolidating the values of loyalty and national belonging and noble human principles that encourage coexistence, tolerance and fraternity.
Bahrain TV has also, over the past two decades, worked with advanced technical developments of the digital revolution, backed by the government’s commitment to enabling it to continue performing its mission in the service of the comprehensive development process efficiently and professionally. Therefore, the operating, production and broadcasting systems were continuously updated, and Bahrain TV broadcasting has become available 24 hours a day, via traditional screens, digital broadcasting over the Internet, smart phone applications and social media platforms.
The News Centre has gone through a serious of technological upgrades, the most prominent of which were in 2006, 2012 and 2016. Those included the opening of new studios and updating media coverage and broadcast news formats; alongside introducing new radio and television programmes, and the training of highly-qualified national talents. This has contributed to advancing the media message on the basis of professionalism.
The inauguration of the new main studio of the News Centre ushers in a new phase of further excellence that has always characterised Bahrain TV and its media message, thanks to the Kingdom’s constant keenness to keep pace with the global developments in various sectors. It will enahnce the media message and content and make them more effective and capable of achieving their goals of enlightening the public opinion, in a way that contributes to enhancing the reality of freedoms and the progress the kingdom is witnessing in all fields.
Source: Bahrain News Agency