Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation

Lore & Background

BRTC was set up in 1971 and became an independent body in January 1993. It oversees both radio and television services in the kingdom. Radio Bahrain was established in 1955, taken over by BRTC in 1971, and became independent in 1993. Its English-language radio service has been on-air since 1977, broadcasting four hours a day from a studio in Isa Town.

In 1982 the station moved to a building in Adliya, and on-air time was extended to 18 hours a day. A second station, Radio 2, began broadcasting six hours a day. In 1989 a new studio was established in the Ministry of Information building, and the following year the station went 24 hours. In 2007 Radio Bahrain switched its frequency from 101.0 FM to 96.5 FM.

Bahrain TV was formed in 1973 by an American company (RTV International) with limited equipment. The government bought the station in 1975 and improved its facilities.

A second channel (Channel 55) opened in December 1981. BTV has produced many Bahraini-created and produced shows, the most prominent being youth shows such as Chat with Batelco and Hala Bahrain. Bahrain TV was criticised for the way it handled the 2011 Bahrain uprising, during which it ran a campaign to name, punish and shame those who took part in the uprising.

Reader's Guide

Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation serves as the primary state-controlled broadcaster in Bahrain, regulating all visual and audio broadcasting in the kingdom. Its radio service, Radio Bahrain, has been a continuous presence since 1955, expanding from four hours a day to 24-hour broadcasting by 1990. The television arm, Bahrain TV, began with limited American equipment in 1973 and was later nationalized and expanded, adding a second channel in 1981.

The corporation's programming has included a vast array of imported animated shows, documentaries, game shows, children's programs, comedies, dramas, and other genres, reflecting a broad international influence. Its handling of the 2011 uprising drew criticism for a campaign that named, punished, and shamed participants, marking a notable moment in its history. As a government-owned entity under the Information Affairs Authority, BRTC remains a key instrument of state media in Bahrain.