On January 21, more than 100 politicians, dignitaries, and business people gathered in Kabul for the inauguration of the Bayat Media Center. Named for the chief executive officer of Ariana Television & Radio Network (ATN), Ehsanollah Bayat, the five-story building will house ATN as well as the headquarters for Afghan Wireless Communication Company and the Bayat Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to philanthropic works in rural Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai spoke at the event; in his speech, he touched on the role that the Bayat Media Center will play the technological future of the country. He also discussed the importance of local innovation and business, saying “This is truly a testament to a future created by Afghans, for Afghans.”
At the media center’s inauguration, ATN’s Ehsanollah Bayat also announced the launch of ATN News, a programming package that will encompass national and regional news, including balanced analysis and commentary on issues ranging from politics to sports. At its new headquarters in the Bayat Media Center, ATN will have access to seven television studios, eight audio-recording studios, and a 250-seat theater designed for live television performances. The company’s CEO expects these upgrades to strengthen the network’s production and broadcast capabilities. Moreover, the prominent Kabul facility highlights Afghanistan as a growing center within the Central Asian digital community.
In addition to its state-of-the-art technology, the media center was constructed with energy efficiency in mind. The building takes advantage of Afghanistan’s sunny climate with solar-powered water heaters and large, double-glazed, glass-panel windows that increase the use of natural light. Furthermore, most of the center’s artificial lighting is comprised of highly efficient LED bulbs, and the facility features a revolutionary water treatment and recycling system. Together, these attributes make the Bayat Media Center one of the country’s greenest buildings.