Bulgarian National Television was founded in 1959. Its official launch was on December 26 of the same year.
Presently Bulgarian National Television operates on the basis of the Law for Radio and Television from 1998. It is a national public broadcasting station. It has four regional centers situated in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Varna, Plovdiv and Russe. Since July 19, 2001 BNT has been a licensed nationwide communication operator and TV broadcaster with its Channel 1 as well as the regional stations’ programs – “Pirin”, “More”, “Plovdiv” and “Sever”.
The first broadcasting in Bulgaria was the live transmission of the parade on the occasion of the anniversary of October Revolution which was held on September 9 Square (now called Alexander Batenberg Square) in 1959. In 1974 a second BNT channel was launched. It was created especially for the purpose of promoting cultural programs. On June 1, 1993 the First Program was given the name “Channel 1” and the Second Program – “Efir 2”. In May, 1999 BNT started broadcasting the “TV Bulgaria” Satellite Channel. On October 4, 1998 after the closing down of “Efir 2” BNT continued fulfilling its obligations as a public media through the Channel 1 24-hour program schedule and TV Bulgaria Satellite Channel.
TV Bulgaria is a unique television channel which broadcasts 100 % Bulgarian programs. It transmitted on EUTELSAT and covers the whole territory of Europe, most of Ukraine, the European parts of Russia, Western Asia, Northern Africa and Northern America.
The application of TELETEXT technology will give additional opportunities for the Bulgarian Satellite Channel.
TV Bulgaria will turn into a real television with its own content by financing its own production.
Promoting Bulgaria on the satellite channel as an attractive place for tourism and recreation will undoubtedly contribute to the long-term interests of foreign investors towards our country.
The GOLDEN CHEST International Television Festival is the longest-standing festival in Bulgaria. It was founded in 1968. In these 35 years it has always been one of the few events in Eastern Europe where creators from all over the world have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and experiences. Participation of television stations from Europe, USA, Australia, Japan, China, etc. has turned the festival into a window to the whole world for many television professionals from Eastern Europe.
During the past several years BNT programs won prestigious awards at Prix Danube Festival (Slovakia), the Golden Vityaz (Russia), Prix Nike (Portugal), Prix Jeunesse (Germany), Prix CIRCOM, Golden Albena (Bulgaria), Bar (Montenegro), Golden Cairo Film Festival (Egypt), Golden Rose (Switzerland), etc. BNT also regularly participates with own programs in numerous international festivals such as Japan Prize, Monte Carlo International TV Festival, Thessaloniki International Festival for TV Documentaries, International TV Festival for short-feature films in Oberheim (Germany), the International Documentary TV Festival in Cracow (Poland), the FIAT International Festival for archive materials, The Golden Prague International Festival, PRIX Italia, etc.
BNT is an active member of the European Broadcasting Union. It is also a member of the following international organizations: EGTA, IMZ, CIRCOM Regional, FIAT and BBLF.
(read less)
