Bahrain Television (BTV) will undergo a major overhaul, with more emphasis on local entertainment and family programmes and will be launched by the year-end, a top government official said.

"We have been working to improve the quality of programmes in BTV since July last year and those following the channel can see advancements in what's being presented," Minister of State for Information Affairs and official government spokeswoman Sameera Rajab was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Rajab was speaking at a Press conference after the weekly Cabinet session yesterday (May 4).

Meanwhile, HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa pledged full support for freedom of expression and opinion in the wake of World Press Freedom Day, which fell on Saturday. He added plans to provide housing for media personnel were being finalised.

"We have met the Housing Ministry on the issue of housing media personnel and there will be special criteria that doesn't follow the regular system," said Rajab. "Details will be revealed by Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer and we are currently finalising them." – TradeArabia News Service