Partly educated in the UK, and having travelled abroad, the king has continued the policy of limited modernisation adopted by his father. He has also been keen to preserve Bhutan's unique culture. He gave up some of the monarch's absolute powers in 1998 and now rules in conjunction with the government, an assembly and a royal advisory council. The launch marked the end of a general ban on television. Radio broadcasting began in 1973 and the first internet service was introduced in 1999.
Media freedom is restricted by the government.
There are no private broadcasters, but cable television is said to be thriving with rival operators offering around 25 channels.