# Myanmar Radio

Myanmar Radio National Service (Burmese: မြန်မာ့အသံ; formerly, Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS)), is the national radio service of Myanmar. It has its broadcasting headquarters in both the administrative capital of Naypyidaw and Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. The service runs Myanmar Radio, Myanmar Radio Minorities Service, Myanmar Radio International and Myanmar Radio 2nd Programme (Tha Pyay Radio). Like all legally operating radio stations in Myanmar, such as Yangon City FM and Mandalay City FM, Myanmar Radio is under state management.
MRNS, alongside all other state-controlled media, is the mouthpiece of successive Burmese governments. However, due to a recent revamp in giving greater air time to music and pop topics, the state-affiliated radio services are, despite their affiliation with the government, popular with the populace. However, in terms of audience for news programmes, MRNS is least popular (and perceived as least credible). Most Burmese listen to foreign based pro-opposition radio services.

## History

Radio service in Myanmar first came on air in 1936 during the British colonial era. Regular programming by Bama Athan (Burmese: ဗမာ့အသံ; "Voice of Burma") began in 1946 when the British established Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS), carrying Burmese language national and foreign news and musical entertainment, knowledge reply and school lessons and English language news and music programming. After independence in 1948, it was named Myanma Athan (Burmese: မြန်မာ့အသံ; also meaning Voice of Burma, but with the more formal term "Myanmar").
The service was renamed Myanmar Radio by the military government which came to power in 1988. The radio service's parent, the Burmese Broadcasting Service was also renamed as Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) in 1997.
Until the launch of Yangon City FM in 2001, BBS/Myanmar Radio was the only radio station in the country. For years, its main broadcast center is at 426 Pyay Road in Kamayut in Yangon. Since late 2007, the main broadcast station has moved to Naypyidaw. Yangon Station now mostly relays Naypyidaw Station's programming.

## Broadcast service

Since the first high frequency (HF) installations back in the 1950s, the service's HF transmitter capacity has not had a major upgrade. However, there have been some minor frequency adjustments, with 4725 replacing the former 4795 and 5040, 7185 replacing 7125 and 7120, and 9730 replacing 9725 and 6035.
| Station | Frequency | Wavelength | Location | Notes |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | 594 kHz | 505 meters | Naypyidaw (MW SW Transmitter Site, Tatkon) | 2300-1630 |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | 576 kHz, 5985 KHz 9730 KHz | 520 meters 50 meters 31 meters | Yangon (Yay Kuu) | 2300v-2400v, 2300-1630. Carries separate program 0030-0230, and at other times relays 594 kHz. |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | 87.6 MHz | - | Yangon (Kamayout) | 2300-1630 |
| Myanmar Radio 2nd Programme (Tha Pyay Radio) | 711 kHz | 422 meters | Naypyidaw (MW SW Transmitter Site, Tatkon) | 0030-1430 |
| Myanmar Radio 2nd Programme (Tha Pyay Radio) | 99.6 MHz | - | Yangon (Kamayout) | 0030-1430 |
| Myanmar Radio International | 94.6 MHz | - | Yangon (Kamayout) | 0030-1630 |
| Myanmar Radio Minorities Service (Upper Tineyinthar) | 5915 kHz | 51 meters | Naypyidaw (MW SW Transmitter Site, Tatkon) | 2330-0530 (Morning) 0630-1400 (Evening) |
| Myanmar Radio Minorities Service (Lower Tineyinthar) | 729 KHz 4725 kHz | 411 meters 63 meters | Yangon (Yay Kuu) | 2330-0530 (Morning) 0630-1230 (Evening) |
| Myanmar Radio Distance Learning | 729 KHz 4725 kHz | 411 meters 63 meters | Yangon (Yay Kuu) | 1230-1330/1530v |

## Relay Station

| Service | Frequency | Power | Transmitter location |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 94.9 MHz | 2 kW | Naypyidaw and Pyinmana. |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.2 MHz | 2 kW | MRTV Headquarters, Tatkon. |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 87.6 MHz | 2 kW | Yangon |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 94.6 MHz | 2 kW | Sagaing and Mandalay |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.0 MHz | 2 kW | Miytkyina |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.0 MHz | 2 kW | Bhamo |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.2 MHz | 2 kW | Homalin |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.5 MHz | 2 kW | Ken Balu |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 90.4 MHz | 2 kW | Falam and Kalay |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.8 MHz | 1 kW | Monywa |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 94.6 MHz | 2 kW | Sagaing and Mandalay |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.3 MHz | 1 kW | Pyin Oo Lwin |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 94.3 MHz | 2 kW | Popa |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.0 MHz | 2 kW | Meiktila |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.8 MHz | 2 kW | Sittwe |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.9 MHz | 2 kW | Taunggyi |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 91.3 MHz | 2 kW | Lahio |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.3 MHz | 2 kW | Keng Tung |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 92.5 MHz | 2 kW | Minbu and Magwe |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.3 MHz | 2 kW | Taungdwingyi |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.5 MHz | 2 kW | Pakokku |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 92.5 MHz | 2 kW | Pathein |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.3 MHz | 2 kW | Kyaunggon |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.5 MHz | 2 kW | Hinthada |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 92.5 MHz | 2 kW | Bago |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 91.0 MHz | 2 kW | Taungoo |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.3 MHz | 2 kW | Pyay |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.2 MHz | 2 kW | Hpa an |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 89.0 MHz | 2 kW | Myawady |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.3 MHz | 2 kW | Belin |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 91.3 MHz | 2 kW | Maylamyine |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.3 MHz | 1 kW | Dawei |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 92.2 MHz | 2 kW | Myeik |
| Myanmar Radio National Service | FM 88.0 MHz | 1 kW | Kawthaung |
| Myanmar Radio International | FM 101.7 MHz | 2 kW | Naypyidaw and Pyinmana |
| Myanmar Radio International | FM 99.0 MHz | 2 kW | Sagaing and Mandalay |