91Èȱ¬

The 91Èȱ¬'s multimedia offer for Kyrgyz-speaking audiences has been enriched with the launch of the 91Èȱ¬ Kyrgyz television co-production with partner broadcaster, Kyrgyzstan State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company KNTR.

From Wednesday 2 December, the weekly programme Sapar (Journey) airs on KNTR's Channel One, bringing 30 minutes of debate and discussion of various issues of the global and regional agenda.

The first programme, at 1830 local time on Wednesday 2 December, discusses issues around global climate ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The presenter, 91Èȱ¬ Kyrgyz senior producer Gulnara Kasmambetova, engages in a dynamic debate with her guests: Aiday Ashiraleva, ecologist; UN Development Programme in Kyrgyzstan; Urustam Kabylbekov of Public Environmental Fund of Glaciers Saving MONGU; and Aytkul Burhanov of the Government Agency on Ecology and Forestry.

Head of 91Èȱ¬ Central Asia and Caucasus Service, Hamid Ismailov, says: "I am proud of the 91Èȱ¬ Kyrgyz team – the smallest team in 91Èȱ¬ World Service – as their commitment and their dedicated work, alongside the 91Èȱ¬'s other teams as well as our Kyrgyz partners, have made Sapar happen.

"This new programme further expands our outreach to the 91Èȱ¬'s multimedia audiences, on radio, online and on TV, helping to put the world developments in the regional context, and the other way round, taking the Kyrgyz agenda to the global audiences. I hope Sapar soon becomes essential viewing across Kyrgyzstan TV audiences and as it's streamed online on bbckyrgyz.com."

Business Development Manager West Asia, 91Èȱ¬ World Service, Gemma Hayman, adds: "We are delighted at this new development in our long and valuable partnership with KNTR. For 15 years, our radio programmes have reached audiences throughout Kyrgyzstan on FM through KNTR radio. Working together on this TV project is an exciting next step, enabling us to reach new audiences together."

Sapar is an addition to the 91Èȱ¬ Kyrgyz radio programming available on the following frequencies: 103.7 FM in Bishkek; 102.2 FM in Batken and 106.3 FM in Kerben; and nationwide on Kyrgyz State Radio Channel 1. The radio and TV output is available on the news and information website, bbckyrgyz.com.

World Service Publicity