Housed in a small studio within the compound of the Vientiane Prefectural (City) Service of Information and Culture, Vientiane Capital Radio and Television Station originated on 10 November 1980 as a local radio station, broadcasting initially on AM only using a 300 watt transmitter left by the Americans. In 1987 the transmitter was upgraded to a Chinese model of 1,000 watts donated by Lao National Radio (LNR), since which time two further second-hand transmitters have been donated by Lao National Radio - a 50Kw transmitter which broke down and could not be repaired due to lack of spare parts, and most recently a 10Kw transmitter which is still operating. FM broadcasting was introduced in 2002. Today Vientiane Capital Radio and Television Station broadcasts for 18 hours each day on 105.5 MHz FM and for 10 hours each day on 640 KHz AM. The FM studio is located in the main compound, while the AM studio is located at Ban Hongseng, outside the city centre. Radio programming aims to inform, educate and entertain listeners living in the capital city with a mix of news, government policy announcements, public service broadcasts on community issues such as health, cleanliness and security, music request shows, phone-ins and advertising. Television broadcasting began in 1993 and comprises just one hour (30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening) every Thursday on Lao National Television (LNTV); the programme, 'Vientiane Prefecture Today', reports the main events of the previous week and activities planned for the following week within the capital city. It is recorded in the radio studio and sent on tape to LNTV for broadcast on Channel 9.