NHK TV dramas to air in Myanmar for the first time

The NHK morning serial drama Carnation and the historical drama series Atsuhime are the first NHK dramas to go to air on terrestrial television in Myanmar since the country’s transition from military to civilian rule in 2011.

The telecasts are part of a project involving Japan International Broadcasting Inc. (JIB) and a commercially operated satellite broadcaster, Myanmar National TV (MNTV).

The two NHK dramas will be screened on the terrestrial service that MNTV will launch from mid-July in Myanmar’s three largest cities: the largest city of Yangon, the capital Naypyidaw, and the second largest city, Mandalay.

The NHK group hopes to establish co-operative arrangements to have MNTV airing NHK programs on a continuing basis. It hopes this project will offer a new model for establishing NHK programs outside Japan.