Myanmar Radio National Service
Encyclopedia
Myanmar Radio National Service ), 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.
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.
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.
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.
(HF) installations back in the 1950s, the service's HF transmitter capacity has not had a major upgrade. 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.
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. It has its broadcasting headquarters in both the administrative capital of Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw is the capital city of Burma, also known as Myanmar. It is administered as the Naypyidaw Union Territory, as per the 2008 Constitution. On 6 November 2005, the administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a greenfield 3.2 km west of Pyinmana, and approximately...
and Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, 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
Yangon City FM
Yangon City FM is a radio station that serves the Yangon metropolitan area, broadcasting at on the FM band at a frequency of 89.0 MHz and on the Internet. Operated by the city government, YCDC, City FM is one of two radio stations available in Yangon...
and Mandalay City FM
Mandalay City FM
Mandalay City FM is a radio station that serves the Mandalay metropolitan area , broadcasting at on the FM band at a frequency of 87.9 MHz and on the Internet. Now the radio station is also serving 30 miles around Taungoo and 30 miles around Yangon city. Mandalay City FM radio will be able to tuned...
, Myanmar Radio is under state management.
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
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
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.
History
Radio service in Myanmar first came on air in 1936 during the British colonial era. Regular programming by Bama Athan 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. After independence in 1948, it was named Myanma Athan .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.
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
Kamayut Township
Kamayut Township is located in the north central part of Yangon. The township comprises ten wards, and shares borders with Hlaing township in the north, Hlaing township and Kyimyindaing township in the west, the Inya Lake, Bahan township and Mayangon township in the east, and Sanchaung township in...
in Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
. Since late 2007, the main broadcast station has moved to Naypyidaw. Yangon Station now mostly relays Naypyidaw Station's programming.
Broadcast service
Since the first high frequencyHigh frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
(HF) installations back in the 1950s, the service's HF transmitter capacity has not had a major upgrade. 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.
| Station | Frequency | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myanmar Radio | 594 kHz | Naypyidaw Naypyidaw Naypyidaw is the capital city of Burma, also known as Myanmar. It is administered as the Naypyidaw Union Territory, as per the 2008 Constitution. On 6 November 2005, the administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a greenfield 3.2 km west of Pyinmana, and approximately... |
?2300-0230 (Sat/Sun-0730), 0330-0730, 0930-1600 |
| Myanmar Radio | 576 kHz, 104 MHz | Yangon Yangon Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial... |
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 Yangon Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial... |
?0930-1230 (Currently inactive) |
| Myanmar Radio Distance Learning | 4725 kHz | Yangon Yangon Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial... |
0930-1330/1530v (Currently inactive) |