In another landmark development for the BBC’s presence in Burma (also known as Myanmar), BBC Burmese has launched its TV news bulletin on the national TV channel, Myanmar National Television (MNTV). BBC Burmese service’s 10-minute programme brings the BBC’s coverage of regional and international news to viewers of MNTV, live, at 20.45 Burmese Time (14.15 GMT) Monday to Friday. The programme will also be streamed live on the website bbcburmese.com.
The launch of the new BBC Burmese TV news programming is part of the continued move of the BBC’s international news services towards digital platforms. BBC Burmese Editor, Tin Htar Swe, says: “We have enjoyed mass listenership in Burma, where the BBC’s balanced, trustworthy radio programming has been in demand for decades. Thanks to this milestone partnership with MNTV, viewers across the country will now have access to BBC news on prime time TV. We are looking forward to this exciting new collaboration which will benefit those who want to keep abreast of the regional and world developments.”
Nan Mouk Laung Saing, President of MNTV and Managing Director of Shwe Than Lwin Media Co, Ltd, adds: “We are delighted to form a partnership with the BBC. As a private media company, we are particularly proud to collaborate with the BBC and we look forward to a long-term partnership. Shwe Than Lwin Media’s core objective is to entertain and inform Myanmar people, and the broadcast of BBC international TV news in Burmese language on MNTV channel will benefit our audience greatly.”
The launch of the BBC Burmese TV news bulletins on MNTV follows the recent expansion of the BBC presence on Myanmar’s media scene which saw the inclusion of selected BBC radio programming to the schedules of some of the country’s nationwide FM networks. In another first for Burma, BBC Burmese audio news bulletins were made available to the country’s mobile-phone users.
The BBC Burmese radio programming is broadcast on shortwave and on PAS10 and Palapa satellite television channels and streamed online via bbcburmese.com. In addition to providing the latest news and current affairs, BBC Burmese offers its audiences a variety of programmes on education, sport, health, technology as well as weekly debates on topical issues.
BBC Burmese is part of BBC World Service. (Source: Press release)