Myanmar's state-run broadcaster MRTV has announced plans to transition to digital broadcasting nationwide by 2020. The broadcaster aims to expand its digital-compatible transmission stations to 77 locations by 2015 and 253 locations by 2017, according to the local daily Seven Day News Journal.
The digital broadcasting system adopted by MRTV is the DVB-T2 standard, common in Europe and Southeast Asia. Existing digital televisions already have built-in tuners for this standard, making reception possible. In the three major cities of Yangon, the capital Naypyidaw, and Mandalay, digital broadcasts are already viewable alongside the traditional analog broadcasts.
While receiving funding from the government, MRTV also aims to secure advertising revenue by selling commercial spots.
The country began television broadcasting in 1979, and under the military regime, it was used as a government propaganda tool. The Ministry of Information is currently drafting legislation to reorganize MRTV into a public broadcaster, enabling it to produce independent news programming. On October 15, MRTV signed a cooperation agreement with TBS Television regarding news reporting. Both stations agreed to mutually provide news footage and cooperate in reporting and the use of broadcasting equipment.
