BBC audio bulletins launch on mobile phones in Myanmar

BBC World Service and Myanmar’s mobile aggregator Blue Ocean Operating Management have signed an agreement that enabled the BBC to become the first international media organisation in Myanmar to deliver news on the mobile platform.

There are around 4 million mobile subscribers in Myanmar, and the number is set to grow with the further liberalisation of the mobile market.  BBC World Service Head of Business Development Asia Pacific, Indu Shekhar Sinha, says: “As Burma’s media scene goes through rapid change, we are thrilled to be spearheading the delivery of international audio news bulletins to Burmese mobile-phone users.  We have also agreed with Blue Ocean Operating Management that the introduction of audio bulletins will be followed by the launch of a BBC Burmese news SMS, providing users with short text news updates.” 

BBC World Service is a mass broadcaster in Myanmar. BBC has a weekly audience of 8.4 million listeners in Myanmar, reaching 22.9% of the country’s population.   

Managing Director of Blue Ocean, Htun Htun Naing, comments on the collaboration between the BBC and Blue Ocean:  “I’m very excited to launch this mobile service which is a first in Myanmar. We are always eager to develop and introduce new services to Myanmar people. With the BBC’s unbiased, independent news content and its existing listener base on the one hand, and our cutting-edge technology on the other, I believe this can soon become a very successful service.” 

The BBC World Service radio output in English is available on the radio service of the digital receiver of Forever Group in Myanmar. Three BBC TV channels – BBC World News, BBC Entertainment and CBeebies – are available on Forever Group’s as well as SkyNet’s pay TV platform in Myanmar.