Officials reflect on decades of cultural and technical milestones, plans for modernization
KUWAIT: Kuwait marked 64 years since its first television broadcast on Saturday, a milestone that officials say reflects the country’s long media journey from a small black-and-white broadcaster in 1961 to a multi-channel digital network.
The station began operating on November 15, 1961, from a modest building in Sharq and aired only a few hours a day. By the 1970s, it expanded its infrastructure and introduced color transmission in 1974, moving to the PAL system. In 1979, the state opened the Media Complex in downtown Kuwait City, bringing TV, radio and the ministry under one roof.
Turki Al-Mutairi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Television and Radio Sector, said the network has always tried to offer a broad mix of programming. “Kuwait Television has, since its beginnings, distinguished itself by offering varied content that includes news, cultural and entertainment programs, in addition to Kuwaiti drama series, which helped shape the Gulf’s TV landscape,” he said.
He said the broadcaster played an important role during the 1990 Iraqi invasion. “The Kuwaiti voice continued broadcasting from abroad, supporting legitimacy and resisting false propaganda until the country was liberated in 1991,” he said. Transmission resumed from Kuwait immediately after liberation.
Al-Mutairi said the post-war years brought major technical and organizational upgrades, including the launch of several channels alongside the main Arabic and English stations. These included the sports channel, the heritage-focused Al-Qurain, Kuwait Plus, Ethraa and Al-Arabi. A dedicated news channel was added more recently.
Al-Mutairi said Kuwait TV expanded significantly in the decades that followed, adding sports, heritage, youth-focused and English-language channels, and most recently a dedicated news station. Many of its studios have been rebuilt in HD, with several being prepared for 4K. Upcoming projects include upgrades to Sport Plus, Al-Qurain and emergency broadcast studios.
He said the news channel now operates with smart cameras, digital sets and augmented-reality graphics. “The channel includes three main studios… equipped with the latest lighting technologies, digital décor, smart camera systems and high-definition broadcasting,” he said. A backup plan is in place to keep the signal on air during emergencies. He added that the news division follows a full emergency plan to ensure uninterrupted broadcasting with backup teams, standby studios and direct links to the ministry’s main control center.
Lafi Al-Subaie, who heads the News Department, said Kuwait TV remains “a symbol of pioneering Kuwaiti media and a national platform that documents the country’s history and spreads its cultural and humanitarian message.”
He said the broadcaster produces hourly bulletins and live programs from three purpose-built studios and connects with correspondents inside and outside Kuwait through satellite and live-link units. He said staff receive continuous training with local and international partners “We are certain that qualified Kuwaitis are our greatest asset. We have a young generation with strong technical and journalistic skills, and we work constantly to support and develop them,” he said. He also highlighted the news division’s emergency plan, which includes backup teams, standby studios and fiber-optic links between the studios, located in Shuwaikh, and the ministry to secure continuous broadcasting.
On the radio side, Director General of the Radio Department Dr Yousef Al-Suraia’ said teams are pushing ahead with digital upgrades. “The ministry’s teams are keen to keep pace with digital transformation and produce content that reflects Kuwaiti identity,” he said.
He said Kuwait Radio operates four main components: 13 live broadcast studios for AM and FM programs; six recording and editing studios; a digital audio library; and a main control unit that routes signals from all studios to the microwave department.
Kuwait Radio operates 13 live studios across AM and FM, along with six recording suites, a digital audio archive and a main control room. Al-Suraia’ said three radio studios were recently upgraded and more projects are planned. “We have already completed the development of three radio studios… and we plan to introduce several future projects to upgrade as many studios as possible,” he said. — Agencies
