Myanmar's first broadcasting bill seeks approval from Lower House

- Myanmar's first ever broadcasting bill will continue to seek approval from the parliament's Lower House after it was passed by the Upper House, according to the state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) Thursday.
When the broadcast law comes into effect, all media including state-owned and private broadcasters can fairly compete each other and the law would also guarantee preventing any one firm from commercially monopolizing the media market, said MRTV Director- General U Tint Swe.
Meanwhile, aimed at striking harmony when the state-owned media is transited to a public service broadcaster under the new law, MRTV signed amended agreements Wednesday with private broadcasters on increasing monthly total income two folds from leasing its infrastructures to them.
Two private satellite TV services and six FM (frequency- modulated) radios are using MRTV's infrastructures.
The two TV broadcasters are Forever Group and Shwe Than Lwin Media, while the six FM radio stations are Mandalay, Pinsawady, Padamyar, Cherry, Shwe and Bagan.
Myanmar is also cooperating with foreign media along with the increased opening of the sector to the private, and a number of foreign media has been seeking to enter the local TV market competitively.
MRTV is operated under Myanmar's Information Ministry.