The President of the Information Affairs Authority (IAA), Sheikh Fawaz Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, announced the completion of contracts with several key international media organizations for training and providing programming in an effort to improve the services provided through the Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC).
These include the Institut National de lAudiovisuel (INA), Broadcasting Board of Governors for Voice of America (BBG/VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The INA is based in France and is an industry leader in providing training in the field of audiovisual and digital technology and its uses. The contract covers the training involved with the technical upgrade to digital television, including sound technicians, graphic editors, graphic designers and documentary editors.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors has agreed to provide the IAA with programming through the Voice of America (VOA) in both English and Arabic to be broadcast on FM radio. The contract stipulates that content will be consistent with both the BBG standards and practices, and the national, cultural, religious and social sensitivities of the Kingdom of Bahrain. BBG will also provide an annual training seminar to participants selected by the IAA.
The contract with the BBG is in addition to one with the BBC to supply radio programming that includes Concerts, Pop Documentaries, Features, Dramas, Readings and Comedies. The IAA has also renewed its contract through 2016 with SOMERA, a Paris-based broadcasting corporation for radio programming in French and Arabic.