KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Kuwait Television (KTV) on Saturday marked decades of broadcasting, highlighting the state’s commitment to delivering professional and trustworthy media content to audiences in Kuwait and across the Arab world.

Since its first broadcast in 1961, KTV has introduced viewers to news, arts, music, drama, and cultural programming. Initially, transmissions were limited to black-and-white broadcasts for several hours daily from a small building in the Sharq area with a handful of dedicated staff. By 1974, color broadcasts were introduced using the PAL system, and the Ministry of Information’s media complex, housing television, radio, and ministry offices, was inaugurated in the heart of Kuwait City on February 17, 1979.

“Kuwait Television and Radio studios are among the oldest in the Middle East, with a history spanning six decades,” Turki Al-Mutairi, Assistant Undersecretary for Television and Radio at the Ministry of Information, told KUNA. He noted that during the 1990 Iraqi invasion, KTV’s operations in Kuwait were suspended, but broadcasts continued from abroad to maintain Kuwait’s legitimate message until the country’s liberation in 1991. Following liberation, KTV resumed broadcasting from Kuwaiti soil and expanded its channels to include KTV 1, KTV 2, KTV 3, Kuwait Sports, Al-Qurain (drama and heritage), Kuwait Plus, Ithraa, Al-Arabi, and the recently launched News Channel.

Al-Mutairi said the Ministry has embraced digital transformation through online streaming, smartphone applications, updated visual identities, and increased investment in national productions showcasing Kuwaiti talent. The Digital 51 Platform was launched to highlight Kuwaiti culture and provide global access to media content.

“Kuwait TV and Radio studios are central to the media system,” he added, noting that live studios operate 24/7, receiving content from editing servers and airing programs continuously. Production studios vary in size and purpose. Studio 800, covering 800 square meters, was upgraded from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD) in 2016; Studio 500 followed in 2024; and the Salmiya Studio was upgraded in 2018. Studio 200 in Shuwaikh currently broadcasts in HD and is set for 4K resolution, with other studios following suit to enhance audience experience.

He said urgent news, political analysis, and live programming utilize HD and 4K technologies with Augmented Reality (AR) to enrich visual content. Future projects include upgrades to the Sport Plus studio, Al-Qurain channel studio, Third Channel production studio, Shuwaikh Studio 200, Second Channel production studio, First and Second Channel broadcast studios, emergency broadcast studio, and News Channel facilities, all pending regulatory approval.

The News Channel, Al-Mutairi confirmed, is fully equipped with infrastructure, technology, and personnel. Its three main studios — daily news, political analysis, and breaking news/live broadcasts — feature advanced lighting, digital sets, smart cameras, HD and 4K broadcasting, and AR platforms. The studios produce round-the-clock bulletins, talk shows, and special event coverage, supported by direct links to correspondents in Kuwait and abroad. A comprehensive emergency plan ensures uninterrupted broadcasting, with backup teams, reserve studios, and direct connections to the Ministry’s main control center.

Lafi Al-Subaie, Director General of the General Department of News at the Ministry, described KTV as a pioneering platform chronicling Kuwait’s history and conveying its cultural and humanitarian message. He confirmed that all news studios meet international standards and maintain integrated links with domestic and international correspondents.

Al-Subaie emphasized continuous staff training in collaboration with local and international media organizations. “Qualified Kuwaitis are our greatest asset. We have a young generation with high-level technical and journalistic skills that we continuously support and develop,” he said. The General News Department has implemented an integrated emergency broadcasting plan, including backup teams, reserve studios, and fiber-optic links between Shuwaikh studios and the Ministry to ensure continuity of Kuwait’s national media message.

Dr. Yousef Al-Sari’, Director General of the General Directorate of Radio at the Ministry, said Kuwait Radio comprises 13 live broadcast studios on AM and FM frequencies, six recording and editing studios, a digital audio library, and monitoring departments. He added that engineering teams maintain broadcasting, recording, mixing, and the digital library, while plans are underway to adopt Audio over IP (AoIP) technology to improve efficiency and reduce malfunctions.

Dr. Al-Sari affirmed that dedicated staff operate around the clock, ensuring uninterrupted transmission during routine operations and emergencies. “No matter the situation, whether an emergency or regular broadcasting, KTV and radio continue their media mission using the best technology and trained staff,” he said.

Kuwait Television and Radio remain central to the country’s media system, blending decades of heritage with advanced technologies to deliver reliable information, cultural content, and national messaging locally and internationally.