Juan Carlos Eusebio

LOCAL MEDIA IN MYANMAR AS OF 2018 DATA • Newspaper Burma has three free of charge, state-owned newspapers that are distributed on a daily basis. From 1965 to 2012, Burma did not have freedom of press and all newspapers were government owned. Reforms were passed in August 2012, lifting the censorship laws. Despite the tight press laws, a wide variety of publications were available. Magazines were less affected by the strict press laws compared to newspapers, as many avoided discussion of the political situation. After the law was repealed in August 2012, sixteen dailies were granted licenses to publish. The 1962 Printing and Registration Act remains in effect, mandating a seven-year prison term for publishing without a license. On 1 April 2013, the first date newspapers could be published freely, four privately owned dailies – The Voice Daily, Golden Fresh Land, The Standard Time Daily, and The Union Daily – hit newsstands. There are a large variety of magazines in Burma, ranging from monthly to bi-annuals, although their market is smaller compared to the "journals". Topics include Burmese traditional medicine, various magazines published by non-Burmese ethnic groups (like the Shan and Rakhine), Buddhist and astronomy related magazines. There are also about 15 newspapers published daily, devoted entirely to football. List of top 6 newspapers and news media in Myanmar: o Thit Htoo Lwin o 7 Day Daily o Democratic Voice of Burma o Eleven o The Voice o Myanmar Times • Television The only television news broadcasts in the country are on the rigidly state-controlled MRTV. The few private television stations in Myanmar avoid all coverage of current affairs in favor of a diet of soap operas, Korean dramas and pop music. There are two local TV channels: TV Myanmar and Myawaddy with programs running from 7:00 am to 4:00 am; and from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Most hotels also have satellite TV. The Myanmar government controls all domestic broadcast media; 2 state-controlled TV stations with 1 of the stations controlled by the armed forces; 2 pay-tv stations are joint stateprivate ventures; access to satellite TV is limited; 1 state-controlled domestic radio station and 9 FM stations that are joint state-private ventures; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in parts of Burma; the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC Burmese service, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia use shortwave to broadcast in Burma; VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily TV news programs that are transmitted by satellite to audiences in Burma • Radio In Myanmar there is one state-controlled domestic radio station and 9 FM stations that are joint state-private ventures. Transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in parts of Burma. The Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC Burmese service, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia use shortwave to broadcast in Burma. Even the risk being imprisoned for doing so, many Burmese listen to the BBC, Radio Free Asia and broadcast by broadcasts by Norway-based exile groups.