Myanmar, BBC to work for broadcast media reform

Myanmar's Information Ministry will closely work with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for broadcast media reform, state media reported Tuesday. The two parties will work for overcoming unforeseen challenges of broadcast media reform in Myanmar, Minister of Information U Aung Kyi was quoted by the New Light of Myanmar as saying. The Myanmar ministry is carrying out media reform which includes transformation of state-owned broadcasting into public service broadcasting modeling on BBC, U Aung Kyi added. In March, Myanmar promulgated a new Media Law, which allows formation of private or public media companies as well as related joint ventures. Meanwhile, since Myanmar's civilian government took office in March 2011, three foreign news agencies -- NHK of Japan, U.S.- based Associated Press and Kyodo News Agency of Japan have successively opened their formal branches in Yangon in addition to others set up in the early period.