Two new FM radio channels soon

New Delhi – Two new FM radio channels will begin broadcasting in Burma as of August, according to sources from the Music Association and FM stations.

The FM radio stations in operation now are Rangoon City FM, Mandalay City FM, Padaukmyay FM and Pyinsawadi FM. Two more FM radio stations called Cherry FM and Shwe FM will be inaugurated in August, they said.

The Music Association Secretary Maung Thit Min said that the FM stations are gaining popularity among the people and there is need for modernizing to international standards and expanding to other States and Divisions.

“Our country will see more progress if there are many more FM stations in our country broadcasting both entertainment and information programmes. This is my belief and opinion. Now in some places, they hear news only after a long time. So these FM stations will be convenient for people,” he said.

Shwe Than Lwin Co. and Zaygabar Co. will take charge of setting up and broadcasting of Shwe FM and Cherry FM stations respectively. These new stations will lay more emphasis on entertainment programmes besides airing general feature programmes, it is learnt.

When contacted for verification of the news, the concerned companies declined to answer questions as they are not authorized to do so. They asked to be contacted when the stations start broadcasting programmes.

An official from Forever Group, which currently airing the Pyinsawady FM, said that though they know two more FM radio channels will be inaugurated soon, they don’t know when.

Pyinsawady FM is based in Rakhine State started broadcasting in March this year. It will be expanded to Irrawaddy Division soon, he said.

“Our current programmes are 75 per cent entertainment and the rest information and educational programmes,” he told Mizzima.

The Cherry FM’s broadcasting radius will be 50 miles in eastern, southern and northern Shan State. The other station Shwe FM will broadcast over a radius of 50 miles in Tanintharyi, Mon, Karen States and Divisions and Pyi in Bago Division.

The Music Association Secretary said that the reason behind inaugurating more FM radio stations is its popularity among people and profitability through commercial advertisements.

“The Music Association welcomes such FM stations. As is known the production of music albums is badly hit by piracy. We cannot produce these albums anymore. Now we can get royalty for our art works from these new media of FM radio stations”, he said.

The ‘Collective Management Committee’ (CMC) under the Music Association currently negotiates and mediates between artistes (singers, song writers, producers and musicians) and owner of these FM radio stations.

Rangoon City FM was inaugurated on January 1, 2001 and could earn over Kyat 600 million annually, the Rangoon City Development Committee (YCDC) Public Relation and Information Department Chief Hla Myint Swe said.

According to Music Association sources, new FM stations based in Monywa and Chin State will also be inaugurated soon.