BBC Burmese programmes to run on Myanmar Radio

For the first time ever, BBC Burmese radio programmes will be rebroadcast by Myanmar's state broadcaster, Myanmar Athan (Myanmar Radio) expanding the BBC Burmese service's footprint in Myanmar further.

Three programmes - the BBC Burmese youth show Mobigeno, the technology and digital innovations programme Cool Tech, and the programme introducing innovative farming methods, San Thit Tehtwin Lai Myay Ta Kwin, are now part of the Myanmar Athan programming aired on FM, medium- and shortwave.

Collaboration with Myanmar Athan further expands BBC Burmese availability in Myanmar. BBC Burmese is currently broadcast through major local broadcasters, on TV and radio. Its audio news bulletins are available on mobile phones in the country.

BBC Burmese Editor, Tin Htar Swe, commented: "Our collaboration with Myanmar Athan means that now, for the first time for BBC Burmese in Myanmar, our content will be available via a state broadcaster. In addition to medium- and shortwave availability, airing these programmes on FM will help us capture a new radio audience which will include a lot of young people who listen to FM on their mobile phones. This is great news for the BBC in Myanmar, further reinforcing our multiplatform presence in Myanmar."

MRTV Director-General, U Myint Htwe, said: "In such a good time of openness, Myanmar Athan will be carrying BBC content for the first time, and I am really proud of it. By adding the BBC's high-quality radio programmes to the schedule of Myanmar Athan, we are further diversifying our radio offer. I am looking forward to continuing MRTV's cooperation with the BBC."

The BBC Burmese 10-minute bi-weekly programmes will be re-broadcast by Myanmar Athan and repeated the following week at these times:

Mobigeno (Mobile Generation) – 15.15 Myanmar Time on Monday

Cool Tech – 14.20 on Tuesday

San Thit Tethwin Lai Myay Ta Kwin (Innovative Methods of Farming) – 11.45 on Thursday

The BBC Burmese radio programming is broadcast from London on shortwave and on Asiasat5 satellite television channel and streamed online via bbcburmese.com. In addition to availability on MNTV, BBC Burmese TV news bulletins are streamed live on the website bbcburmese.com at 20.45 local time (14.15 GMT) Monday to Friday. The BBC Burmese Facebook page has around 6.5 million fans while the BBC Burmese channel on Viber has around 200,000 followers (August 2016). BBC Burmese also connects with its audiences on Twitter.

BBC Burmese is part of BBC World Service.

(BBC Press Release)