Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) – State Media Monitor

The Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) stands as Bhutan’s state-owned, multi-platform media powerhouse—catering to a diverse viewership through its radio, television, and digital outlets. As the kingdom’s lone domestic television broadcaster, BBS plays an unmatched role in shaping the national narrative.

Media assets

Television: BBS1, BBS2, BBS3

Radio: BBS1, BBS2

State Media Matrix Typology

Ownership and governance

Operated as a public corporation since 1992, BBS is wholly owned by the Government of Bhutan, with the Ministry of Finance as its sole shareholder. The Editorial Board—nominated by the same ministry—holds formal responsibility for editorial policy, but in reality, this structure leaves it under tight state oversight with limited editorial independence. Despite a royal edict in 1992 calling for autonomy, BBS remains effectively a state-serving broadcaster lacking legally enshrined safeguards to guarantee impartiality.

In February 2025, BBS’s board terminated its then-CEO for alleged misconduct and weak leadership; this decision was upheld by the Thimphu District Court. As of June 2025, Tshering Wangchuk is serving as BBS’s CEO. A veteran media leader, he previously co-founded Business Bhutan and is considered the first Bhutanese to helm a print, radio, and television organization

Source of funding and budget

BBS relies heavily on state support—more than 80% of its budget is government-funded. In 2019, it total budget was BTN 269 million (~US$ 3.6 million), with BTN 44 million from its own sources; government subsidies comprised ≈55% of revenues.

In 2020, the budget rose moderately to BTN 296 million (~US$ 3.6 million); internal revenue held steady at BTN 49 million. The following year, amidst losses of BTN 31 million (~US$ 424,000), BBS received around BTN 200 million (~US$ 2.7 million) in subsidies, making it the fourth-largest loss‑making state enterprise.

BBS has not publicly released any updated standalone revenue figures for 2022, 2023, or 2024, either in its annual report or on public platforms.

Lines blur between “own revenues” and “other state funding,” suggesting a fiscal architecture propped up more by taxpayers than commercial earnings—placing BBS firmly under the state umbrella.

Editorial independence

There are no laws, independent bodies, or watchdog mechanisms safeguarding BBS’s editorial autonomy. Despite public assurances—such as the 1992 royal edict—the broadcaster continues to function as an instrument of state communication, lacking the structural safeguards found in genuinely independent public service media.

July 2025