BBC Inks Pay-TV Deal in Burma

LONDON – The BBC and BBC Worldwide rolled out three of its pay-TV channels in Burma Monday, Dec. 17, taking its BBC World News, BBC Entertainment and children's channel CBeebies into the territory for the first time.

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BBC World News is the BBC’s commercially-funded international 24-hour news channel, BBC Entertainment showcases British light entertainment, drama and comedy and CBeebies is a channel designed for pre-school kids.

All three BBC TV channels, along with with BBC World Service in Asia in English, will launch on Forever Group’s pay-TV platform in Burma Jan. 1, 2013.

The BBC has a long history of providing news and information to Burma, via BBC World Service.

Since its first broadcast in 1940, BBC Burmese has been a source of information for people living in Burma, as well as for the Burmese diaspora.

The launch of these pay TV channels and the BBC World Service global English radio, will see programming made available to around 250,000 homes in Burma on Forever Group’s pay TV platform.

One of two major private broadcasters in Burma, Forever Group is one of the earliest digital TV broadcasters in the region and broadcasting in DVB-T and DVB-T2.

Forever Group is also extending its digital TV network all over the country using the DVB-T2 system.

BBC Worldwide channels Asia svp and general manager Mark Whitehead said the BBC is "pleased to be part of Burma’s growing economy."