The Burmese military government's Ministry of Information gave Myanmar Radio and Television-3 (MRTV-3) a makeover and re-launched it on Thursday as the Myanmar International TV channel.
According to The New Light of Myanmar, a state-run newspaper, Myanmar International will carry international news, local news, documentaries, current affairs programs, entertainment and Burmese films with English subtitles. Myanmar International has hired foreign presenters for some of its programs.
The channel will broadcast 24 hours a day in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and Indonesia, and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. inside Burma. After concluding a test run process that began on February 12, Myanmar International began regular airing on Thursday.
In his opening ceremony speech, Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said: "Myanmar International hopes that its programs in English will connect Myanmar with the world outside and, similarly, through Myanmar International, the world outside will know the real Myanmar and understand it.”
“There is much the world outside does not know about Myanmar, a country progressing and modernizing, even as it preserves and practices its culture and traditions,” Kyaw Hsan said.
Kyaw Hsan also noted the other potential audience for Myanmar International outside of Burma. “Of course, we must not forget that Myanmar International will be watched by the Myanmar communities in other countries.”
According to one media observer who watched Myanmar International from Thailand, not much has changed on the channel but the packaging. “The government said the channel changed not only in name but also in substance. But what I see are programs not very different from the old MRTV-3, except the news announcers are foreigners,” the media observer said.
Other observers noted the timing of the launch as the government prepares for the announced election.
“I assume it was launched for the election,” said San Moe Wai, the secretary of the exile-based Burma Media Association. “Media is useful for the pre-election campaign period.”
“Myanmar International can be a focus for the government in the coming election,” a Rangoon-based journalist told The Irrawaddy on Thursday. “On the old MRTV-3, everybody inside Burma switched off the television when the news announcer came on, so the government changed the programming to make it more interesting.”
Observers also said that the military regime will try to broadcast its policy on FM radio stations in preparation for the election, and that a small group of investors who are close to the military have applied to set up private stations. In addition, in 2009 the Ministry of Information renewed licenses for private radio stations such as Mandalay FM, Cherry FM, Shwe FM, Padamyar FM, Pagan FM, and Pyinsawadee FM.
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