Myanmar Radio National Service

Myanmar Radio National Service (Burmese: မြန်မာ့အသံ; formerly, Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS)), is the national radio service of Myanmar. It has its broadcasting headquarters in both the administrative capital of Naypyidaw and Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. The service runs Myanmar Radio and Myanmar Radio Minorities Service. Like all legally operating radio stations in Myanmar, such as Yangon City FM and Mandalay City FM, Myanmar Radio is under state management.

Myanmar Radio National Service
CityYangon, Naypyidaw
Broadcast areaMyanmar
Frequency576 kHz AM, 594 kHz AM, 87.6 MHz FM[1]
First air date15 February 1946[2]
FormatNews and entertainment
Power50 kW
OwnerMinistry of Information, Myanmar

MRNS, alongside all other state-controlled media, is the mouthpiece of successive Burmese governments. However, due to a recent revamp in giving greater air time to music and pop topics, the state-affiliated radio services are, despite their affiliation with the government, popular with the populace. However, in terms of audience for news programmes, MRNS is least popular (and perceived as least credible). Most Burmese listen to foreign based pro-opposition radio services.[3]

History

Radio service in Myanmar first came on air in 1936 during the British colonial era.[4] Regular programming by Bama Athan (Burmese: ဗမာ့အသံ; "Voice of Burma") began in 1946 when the British established Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS), carrying Burmese language national and foreign news and musical entertainment, knowledge reply and school lessons and English language news and music programming.[2] After independence in 1948, it was named Myanma Athan (Burmese: မြန်မာ့အသံ; also meaning Voice of Burma, but with the more formal term "Myanmar").

The service was renamed Myanmar Radio by the military government which came to power in 1988. The radio service's parent, the Burmese Broadcasting Service was also renamed as Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) in 1997.[4]

Until the launch of Yangon City FM in 2001, BBS/Myanmar Radio was the only radio station in the country. For years, its main broadcast center is at 426 Pyay Road in Kamayut in Yangon. Since late 2007, the main broadcast station has moved to Naypyidaw. Yangon Station now mostly relays Naypyidaw Station's programming.[1]

Broadcast service

Since the first high frequency (HF) installations back in the 1950s, the service's HF transmitter capacity has not had a major upgrade.[5] However, there have been some minor frequency adjustments, with 4725 replacing the former 4795 and 5040, 7185 replacing 7125 and 7120, and 9730 replacing 9725 and 6035.[5]

Station Frequency Location Notes
Myanmar Radio 594 kHz Naypyidaw ?2300-0230 (Sat/Sun-0730), 0330-0730, 0930-1600
Myanmar Radio 576 kHz, 104 MHz Yangon 2300v-2400v, 0030-0230, 0330-0830 (Sat/Sun 0030-0830), 0930-1600. Carries separate program 0030-0230, and at other times relays 594 kHz.
Myanmar Radio Minorities Service 4725 kHz Yangon ?0930-1230 (Currently inactive)
Myanmar Radio Distance Learning 4725 kHz Yangon 0930-1330/1530v (Currently inactive)

Station
CallsignFrequencyPowerTransmitter location
Myanma RadioAM 594 kHz200 kWNaypyitaw
Myanma RadioFM 89.2 MHz2 kWNaypyitaw
Myanma RadioAM 576 kHz100 kWYangon
Myanma RadioFM 87.6 MHz10 kWYangon
Myanma RadioFM 94.6 MHz3 kWMandalay, Sagaing
Myanma RadioFM 88.9 MHz2 kWTaunggyi
Myanma RadioFM 91.3 MHz2 kWMaylamyine
Myanma RadioFM 92.5 MHz2 kWMagwe
Myanma RadioFM 92.5 MHz2 kWPathein

References
  1. "Radio Stations in Myanmar (Burma)". Asia Waves. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
  2. Kyaw Kyaw Htun and Win Lwin. "Myanmar Country Report" (PDF). ASEAN Mass Communication Studies and Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2008-12-24. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Min Zin (November 2002). "Keeping the Pulse of Burmese Airwaves". The Irrawaddy.
  4. Marie Korpe (2004). Shoot the Singer!. Zed Books. p. 41. ISBN 9781842775059.
  5. Bob Padula. "Radio Broadcasting in Myanmar". DXinfo. Retrieved 2008-12-24.

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