UNION Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn inspected the media projects being jointly implemented by Myanma Radio and Television and the private sector in Yangon yesterday morning.
Upon arriving at the MyanSat DTH Broadcasting and Distribution head office, Chief Operation Officer U Thant Sin explained that the head office building had been rented and prepared; that resources had been allocated and operations were underway; that 156 local and international TV channels were being broadcast; that 102 distribution outlets had been opened nationwide; and that more than 10,000 MyanSat set-top boxes (STBs), as well as MRTV DTH set-top boxes (STBs), were being sold. The Union minister coordinated and provided the necessary support.
At the Shwe FM production office, Shwe Thanlwin Media Company Managing Director U Min Min explained the separation of the production office and studio; the initial broadcasts in Bago and Taninthayi Regions and Mon and Kayin States; and the subsequent expansion to Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway, and Ayeyawady regions, as well as Shan State. He added that the broadcasts are transmitted through 17 additional relay stations that a total of 18 hours of programming is aired daily from 5 am to 11 pm, and that live MRTV news is received and broadcast daily at 1 pm.
At the 200-Metre Transmission Workstation, being jointly operated by Shwe Thanlwin Company, the responsible personnel explained that despite recent natural disasters, the tower and workshop had not been damaged and remained in good condition. They added that the tower would be painted and maintained in the coming years. They also explained that MRTV, Forever, Skynet, and Padamya FM are using the satellite transmitter antenna in accordance with established procedures, and that the Skynet DTH control is being used on a rotating basis.
Afterwards, the Union Minister arrived at the Forever Company head office, where Chief Executive Officer Dr Hein Htet Aye and General Manager U Kyaw Kyaw explained that among the various divisions of the broadcasting business, Mandalay FM and Pyinsawadi FM’s Teen Radio are currently operating alongside the head office’s management activities. Mandalay FM broadcasts 18 hours a day within a 30-mile radius in Nay Pyi Taw and Toungoo, a 60-mile radius in Yangon, and a 90-mile radius in Mandalay. Pyinsawadi FM’s Teen Radio broadcasts 18 hours a day in Yangon, Ayeyawady Region, and Rakhine State.
The Union minister then visited the broadcasting studios and participated in a live broadcast, delivering his greetings to the FM audience.
In addition, the Union minister inspected the building, which houses Studio A and related studios, currently being upgraded with a Ton 250, chiller system in two phases, with the installation of the second Ton 125 facility underway. He instructed that regular inspections and maintenance be carried out for the air handling units (AHUs) and duct lines, as well as for the two 500-kVA generators, with their operational capacity monitored and test runs systematically recorded so that the generators can be promptly activated in the event of an emergency power failure. — MNA/TH
