The Maldives on Tuesday observed National Broadcasting Day.
The day is marked annually to acknowledge the role broadcasters play in development and nation-building, upholding democratic accountability, and creating public awareness.
The Maldives officially began broadcasting on December 29, 1962 via Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu (DRA). The government-run radio station formally began broadcasting on September 11, 1966, with clear objectives to inform, educate and entertain the public.
In the beginning, DRA broadcast programmes for few hours every day, and the programmes included news, information and awareness, in addition to sports and entertainment.
Today, there are 7 radio channels in the country, and 4 of them are owned by private broadcasters.
The state television channel, TVM, began broadcasting March 29, 1978. Currently, the country has 14 TV channels including 3 channels operated the state broadcaster and 11 channels owned by private broadcasters. In addition, re-broadcasting is also expanding in the country.
Maldives Broadcasting Commission, established in 2010 under the Broadcasting Act, serves as the regulatory body of broadcasters and re-broadcasters in the country.
Publishing newspapers and magazines were open for private parties from the beginning, but till 2006 broadcasting was limited to government only. Since 2006, private companies have ventured into broadcasting by launching radio and TV channels. According to the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, a total of 47 broadcast licenses have so far been issued to 26 broadcasters. Currently, there are 34 TV channels, 12 radio channels, and 117 cable TV operators in the country. Five parties have also been issued licences to re-broadcast to the whole country.
The Maldives began observing National Broadcasting Day in 2012.