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The various mass media in 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.
Kuensel, a newspaper of a government-owned corporation, circulates six days a week in Dzongkha and English. In 2006 two privately owned, independent newspapers were launched as part of preparation for the country's move to democracy: Bhutan Times , and Bhutan Observer , which also produced a Dzongkha edition. Bhutan Today , an English daily newspaper launched in October 2008. The Journalist established in 2009 is a privately owned weekly English Language newspaper published on Sundays. [1] In late September 2009, the first Financial Newspaper of Bhutan was launched with the name Business Bhutan .
According to Freedom House, private newspapers in Bhutan face "financial fragility" and rely on government advertisements for approximately 80 percent of their income. Since private media outlets were made legal in 2006, the number of private media outlets has grown, reducing the access of each outlet to that revenue. In 2012, a financial crisis occurred and the government chose to only run advertisements for the then-upcoming 2013 elections on state media outlets. Due to their financial condition, newspapers cut their staff, and some implemented additional cost-cutting measures such as switching from publishing daily to publishing bi-weekly and temporarily ceasing to produce a print edition. The government was accused of intentionally reducing advertising revenue to retaliate against The Bhutanese's reporting on governmental corruption. [2] [3] Some of the newspapers folded in this process. [4] Today Kuensel is the only newspaper in the country published daily with two language editions, Dzongkha and English. Currently there are only five private newspapers in the country. [5] 2008 the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy was launched to "nurture democracy in Bhutan through civic engagement, public discourse and media literate citizens". [6]
The Bhutan Broadcasting Service was established in 1973 as a radio service, broadcasting all over the country in short wave and on the FM band in Thimphu. Before the introduction of local television, there was spillover from services in India and Bangladesh, blocked by the mountainous terrain of the southern lowlands. Satellite dishes were banned in 1989, also ordering the removal of dishes that were already installed. [7] Such a ban was necessary because foreign programming would undermine "Bhutan's rich cultural heritage", until Bhutan would have its own service. [8] The service started television broadcasts in 1998, in a pilot phase for Thimphu residents to watch the 1998 FIFA World Cup, [7] and a regular local service from BBS in 1999, making Bhutan the last country in the world to introduce a local television service. 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. The Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) has been expanded and will be available in Bhutan and will also be available in the region. The signal can be received in almost forty other countries, including Turkey to Indonesia. The Bhutan Broadcasting Service has now assumed the role of a true national broadcaster said the minister of information and communications. In 2008 the adoption of the constitution by Lyonpo Leki Dorji meant that the BBS would now be taking on a more pivotal in educating the public. When they took the role to educate the public this meant they had to improve the quality of news and programs because it became imperative. Sudhir Vyas, ambassador of Bhutan, thinks India is privileged to be associated with the development of media in Bhutan. The launch was a true testimony and the support the government had for the media.[ according to whom? ] This symbolized the role that the government played in the development of Bhutan. The Bhutan Broadcasting Service has also been said to be the cheapest and easiest way to educate people. [9] Privately owned FM radio stations include Kuzoo FM and Radio Valley FM. [10]
The government issued an order to DoT MoC in April 1999 to make internet working until June 2, 1999, giving them three months to get done. [11] Bhutan has about 295,000 Internet users, 25,200 landline subscribers, and 676,000 mobile phone subscribers. [12] Bhutan's only Internet service provider is Druknet which is owned by Bhutan Telecom. The mobile subscriber in 2014 was at 14%. As the market began to mature in 2015 it was 5% and 2% in 2015 and 2016, as market penetration reached 88% in 2016. It has been predicted in the next five years or so there will be a moderate growth. Over this time the mobile subscriber has reached an excessive of 100% at times. Internet access in the country has had a major boost by mobile networks, largely by EDGE/GPRS and the new 3G technology platforms. Even though this is the case now because they have been isolated from the rest of the world for a long time until the 1990s. The fixed telephone lines are declining in Bhutan from a small base as the mobile segment keeps expanding. Penetrations have dropped over the years as in 2014 dropped to 3.1%, 2015 dropped to 2.9%, and 2016 dropped to 2.7%. Internet in Bhutan developed down a slow path during the beginning of the internet because the country embraced the internet cautiously which is still continuing to be low because the country is struggling economically. Fixed broadband penetration is increasing from a small base as it has continued over the past few years. Penetration has increased by 2.3% in 2012, 3.1% in 2014, 4% in 2016, and is predicted to grow in the next five years until 2021. [13]
By January 2021 there were 373.2 thousand internet users in Bhutan. [14]
On any given day a Bhutanese spends an average of 163 minutes on social media. The most popular social media amongst the Bhutanese are Facebook, WeChat and YouTube. The use of TikTok is also on the rise [15]
Social media has been used in Bhutan to bring about change. [16] In 2011, a concerned citizen of Bhutan started a digital campaign on Facebook with the objective of convincing the government to amend an Act which was recently passed and was being strictly implemented. The campaign started in the form of a page on Facebook. It was called, "Amend the Tobacco Control Act". It was the first of its kind in Bhutan since the arrival of internet in the country in 1999. The campaign was not only successful but also garnered media attention both locally and internationally. It also influenced political discourse in the country.
"Gasa Lamai Singye" was the first film movie made by Ugyen Wangdi the founder of the Country's fledgling cinema in 1989. The Bhutanese lama 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. Historically, films in Bhutan were often adaptations of Bollywood films however in recent years film makers are aiming at defining Bhutanese cinema, nevertheless influence from Bollywood is still a major inspiration. [17] More recently the popularity of Korean dramas have also had some effect on Bhutanese cinema. [18] In 2022 the country's first nomination Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, for best international feature for the Oscars was a debut from director Pawo Choyning Dorji. [19]
In 2021 Bhutan saw the start of two OTT platforms Songyala and Samuh [20] The platforms, which stream live video content to any internet-enabled device, can be accessed from 60 countries across the world. The content on the platform includes entertainment and infotainment spanning across different sectors such as original films, original web series, documentaries, music videos, shows, and animation programs for children, among others [21] These platforms can be downloaded as apps or viewed on a browser. [22] [23]
Telecommunications in Bhutan includes telephones, radio, television, and the Internet.
The music of Bhutan is an integral part of its culture and plays a leading role in transmitting social values. Traditional Bhutanese music includes a spectrum of subgenres, ranging from folk to religious song and music. Some genres of traditional Bhutanese music intertwine vocals, instrumentation, and theatre and dance, while others are mainly vocal or instrumental. The much older traditional genres are distinguished from modern popular music such as rigsar.
The Royal Bhutan Army is a branch of the armed forces of the Kingdom of Bhutan responsible for maintaining the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty against security threats. The Druk Gyalpo is the Supreme Commander in Chief of the RBA. The Chief Operations Officer is Goonglon Gongma Batoo Tshering.
Kuensel is the national newspaper of the Kingdom 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% of Kuensel while 49% is held by the public.
The Bhutan Broadcasting Service is a state-funded radio and television service in Bhutan. A public service corporation which is fully funded by the state and it is the only service to offer both radio and television in the kingdom, and is the only television service to broadcast from inside the Bhutanese border. The use of telecommunications is currently governed through the Information, Communications and Media Act of 2006.
Mongar is a town and the seat of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan. The population of Mongar Dzongkhag in 2022 was estimated at 36,383, comprising 17,498 males and 18,886 females. It included 10,084 residing in urban centres of Mongar, Gyalpoizhing, Lingmithang, Kidheykhar, Drametse and Yadi towns. The rural population across 17 Gewogs was of 26,299. Mongar is on the road from Thimphu to Trashigang. It is one of the oldest educational hubs of the country. It has a regional hospital and a good standard hotel, among other facilities. The important Yagang Lhakhang monastery is on the outskirts of the town. The post code for Mongar post office is 43001. The ruins of Zhongar Dzong are located on the outskirts of Mongar. The Dzong has been in ruins since 1889.
Censorship in Bhutan refers to the way in which the Government of Bhutan controls information within its borders. There are no laws that either guarantee citizens' right to information or explicitly structure a censorship scheme. However, censorship in Bhutan is still conducted by restrictions on the ownership of media outlets, licensing of journalists, and the blocking of websites.
The Bhutan Observer was Bhutan's first private bilingual newspaper. It was launched as a private limited company by parent company Bhutan Media Services (BMS), and began publishing on June 2, 2006, in Thimphu. Its Dzongkha edition was called Druk Nelug, and the newspaper maintained an online service in English until 2013.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Bhutan face legal challenges that are not faced by non-LGBT people. Bhutan does not provide any anti-discrimination laws for LGBT people, and same-sex unions are not recognised. However, same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in Bhutan on 17 February 2021.
A Bhutanese passport is a document which authorizes and facilitates travel and other activities in Bhutan or by Bhutanese citizens. Foreign travel passports are issued to citizens of Bhutan for international travel by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is valid for all countries unless otherwise endorsed.
The Druk Chirwang Tshogpa was a Bhutanese political party. It was registered on January 7, 2013. In the primary round of the 2nd National Assembly elections held in 2013, the DCT had 12,457 votes and came fourth place, not winning in any constituency, and so could not take part in the final round. The Election Commission of Bhutan announced on February 26, 2018, that the Party was being deregistered on its own request. The party then merged with Druk Phuensum Tshogpa.
The cinema of Bhutan is a small but emerging industry, having started in the mid-1990s. It has since been supported by government officials and different businesses.
Kezang Dorji is a Bhutanese rapper, social worker, and a youth icon. He was named "The Rising Star of Bhutan" in 2016 by Kuensel. He is also the recipient of the prestigious South Asian Youth Award 2018. Kezang is the first Bhutanese artist to be featured on BBC News (2018) and CNN.
Tandi Dorji is a Bhutanese politician who served as Foreign Minister for Bhutan from November 2018 to 2024. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018.
Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen is a Bhutanese politician who served as the Minister for Home and Cultural Affairs from November 2018 to 6 May 2021 when he resigned. He was a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan from October 2018 to May 6, 2021.
Wangchuk Namgyel is a Bhutanese educationist and politician who is the current speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan, in office since November 2018. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018.
Kinga Penjor is a Bhutanese politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Bhutan, since October 2018.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
The Bhutan Media Foundation is a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) established under Royal Charter and with seed funding from His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in Thimphu on 21 February 2010.
