Crown Prince Attends RTB Birthday Bash
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown

Prince in his capacity as the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, consented to attend Radio Television Brunei's 30th anniversary celebration yesterday morning at the Dewan Raya, RTB, in the capital.

Upon arrival, the Crown Prince was greeted by Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Dato Paduka Haji Eusof Agaki bin Haji Ismail, Deputy Minister of Health Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office and RTB staff.

Before proceeding to the Dewan Ray a, the Crown Prince consented to sign a specially-designed plaque to commemorate the event.

The celebration kicked off with opening remarks by Acting Director of RTB Awang Haji Mohd Yusof bin Haji Abd Rahman who noted that RTB's development was the fastest among all National Development Projects implemented 30 years ago.

The acting director said in the early stages of RTB's establishment, it had only one studio to operate in.

However, in view of the need for more television programmes, RTB acquired a new complex in 1980, which until today, houses three studios and number of offices for technical purposes, television programmes and news broadcast.

Awang Haji Mohd Yusof added that on January 1, 1994, a service was launched by His Majesty the Sultan and Singapore's Prime Minister, allowing a one-hour programme of exchange broadcasting between Brunei and Singapore.

Renamed Brunei International Channel, it now broadcasts an average of 10 hours a day, reaching countries such like Japan, India, China and Australia, he said, adding that viewers and listeners overseas can also follow RTB's programmes at its website, www.rtb.gov.bn.

He also said the Resources Centre is currently moving its archive system from analog to digital for the convenience of users to browse news materials. The trial run of digital broadcasting will be performed at the end of this year, and 200 set top boxes will be distributed to viewers within 10 kilometres of the station's vicinity.

The wider broadcasting will be implemented in 2007, after RTB has moved to a new building, he said.

The highlight of yesterday's celebration was the official launch of the Ident Channel Station 5 and 8 by the Crown Prince.

After the launch, HRH- consented to receive a pesembah from RTB acting director before a visit to the exhibition where hundreds of photos of RTB's 30 years of historical moments, as well as old transmission equipment, were displayed.

The Crown Prince then proceeded to officially launch the New Play out Centre and Station Ident "RTB International".

Capping off the celebration, HRH visited various departments and studios of RTB. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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