Burmese Broadcasting Service

Burmese Broadcasting Service is the parent of Myanmar Radio National Service and Myanmar Television. It was established during the British colonial period in Myanmar with the help of the British Broadcasting Corporation and started broadcasting in 1937. The service was initially based in Yangon and was later moved to Naypyidaw after the State Peace and Development Council decided to move the capital. The Ministry of Information (Myanmar) is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Burmese Broadcasting Service, which includes Myanmar Radio National Service and Myanmar Television, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Myanmar) and the Myanmar Press Council.

● History

The history of the Burmese Broadcasting Service dates back to the British colonial period in Myanmar, when it was established with the help of the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1937. During World War II, the service was used by the Allies to broadcast propaganda to the Japanese forces. After Myanmar gained independence in 1948, the Burmese Broadcasting Service continued to operate under the Ministry of Information (Myanmar), with the help of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Asian Broadcasting Union. The service played a crucial role in promoting the country's Burmese culture and Burmese language, as well as providing news and information to the public, in collaboration with the Myanmar News Agency and the Myanmar Journalists Association.

● Organization

The Burmese Broadcasting Service is a state-owned enterprise, overseen by the Ministry of Information (Myanmar), which is responsible for regulating the media industry in Myanmar, including the Myanmar Press Council and the Myanmar Media Council. The service is headed by a director-general, who is appointed by the President of Myanmar, in consultation with the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw. The organization has a number of departments, including news, programming, and engineering, which work together to produce and broadcast content, in collaboration with the Myanmar Radio National Service and the Myanmar Television. The Burmese Broadcasting Service also has a number of regional stations, including the Yangon Region and the Mandalay Region, which provide local programming and news, in partnership with the Yangon City Development Committee and the Mandalay City Development Committee.

● Programming

The Burmese Broadcasting Service offers a range of programming, including news, current affairs, entertainment, and educational programs, in collaboration with the Myanmar Education Ministry and the Myanmar Health Ministry. The service broadcasts in Burmese language and also offers programs in other languages, including English language and Shan language, with the help of the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Voice of America. The service also broadcasts programs produced by other broadcasters, including the BBC World Service and the Deutsche Welle, as well as programs from the Asian Broadcasting Union and the European Broadcasting Union. The Burmese Broadcasting Service has also produced a number of popular programs, including the Myanmar National News and the Burmese Idol, in partnership with the Myanmar Media Council and the Myanmar Entertainment Association.

● Transmission

The Burmese Broadcasting Service broadcasts its programs through a number of channels, including AM radio, FM radio, and television, with the help of the Myanmar Post and Telecommunications and the Myanmar Telecommunications Operators Association. The service also offers online streaming of its programs through its website, in collaboration with the Myanmar Internet Exchange and the Myanmar ICT Association. The Burmese Broadcasting Service has a number of transmission stations located throughout Myanmar, including the Yangon Region and the Mandalay Region, which provide coverage to most parts of the country, in partnership with the Yangon City Development Committee and the Mandalay City Development Committee. The service also uses satellite broadcasting to reach audiences in other countries, including Thailand, China, and India, with the help of the AsiaSat and the Intelsat.

● Controversies

The Burmese Broadcasting Service has been the subject of controversy over the years, particularly with regards to its role in promoting the interests of the State Peace and Development Council and the Tatmadaw, in collaboration with the Myanmar Ministry of Defense and the Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs. The service has been accused of broadcasting propaganda and biased news, as well as censoring opposition voices, with the help of the Myanmar Press Council and the Myanmar Media Council. The Burmese Broadcasting Service has also been criticized for its lack of independence and its close ties to the Myanmar government, including the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw. Despite these controversies, the Burmese Broadcasting Service remains an important source of news and information for many people in Myanmar, in partnership with the Myanmar News Agency and the Myanmar Journalists Association.