The Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) will cooperate with state-run Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) in program broadcasting in a bid to increase the technical skills of local broadcast media professionals.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two parties regarding the cooperation, state-run daily New Light of Myanmar said.
The ABC is Australia’s national public broadcaster. With a total annual budget of A$1.18 billion, the corporation provides television, radio, online and mobile services throughout metropolitan and regional Australia, as well as overseas through the Australia Network and Radio Australia.
ABC becomes the second foreign media to cooperate with Myanmar in the nascent sector after Voice of America (VOA) signed a similar MoU in June last year.
VOA is providing Myanmar with advanced equipment and training courses for the employees of MRTV to improve their technical skills.
Myanmar’s cooperation with foreign media comes as the former pariah country embarked on a road to political and economic reform since a civilian government was installed in March 2011.
As the government releases its ironclad control over the media sector in Myanmar, a number of foreign media such as CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera have been actively seeking to enter the local television broadcasting market.
Although funded and owned by the government, the ABC remains editorially independent as ensured through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.
MRTV is operated under Myanmar’s Ministry of Information.
