If everything goes as planned, Bhutan could have its first sports TV Channel by 2025. The FIFA and Asian Football Federation (AFC) funded project will be engaged in broadcasting live coverage of sports as a television program in the country.
Bhutan Football Federation (BFF), who will run the channel, says the project is currently in the planning stages.
“We are in the planning process where the AFC and FIFA are supporting us to have Bhutan’s first sports TV because it is very difficult for us with only one broadcaster in the country to broadcast and give coverage to sports,” Phuntsho Wangdi, the Head of Commercial and Communication of BFF, said.
To make it happen, the federation has started training their media team with various technical and marketing related skills.
At the same time, the AFC is also helping the federation get in touch with two international consultants with regard to technical support and developing market strategies.
However, BFF says it will not be an easy task especially considering the complex government procedures and lack of market.
“BFF’s plan was to come up with sports TV by 2025 as mandated by the AFC. But it is very difficult to come up with a sports channel because of the small market. Also, we don’t have many trained personnel to come up with the content but I am very hopeful that by next two years we might have something coming up,” Phuntsho Wangdi said.
For now, BFF has written to the Ministry of Information and Communications expressing the need for a sports TV channel in the country.
The federation is also preparing a proposal for the project which they will submit to the ministry very soon. As per the draft proposal, the channel will be called Bhutan Sports News.
As a pilot project, Bhutan Sports News will initially cover and broadcast all the sporting events happening in Thimphu, Paro and Punakha.
