followthemedia.com - a knowledge base for media professionals
Conflict & Transition Zones Follow-up

Raise high the license fee, Burma, and see less

Burma’s military rulers engaged a new front in their war on media “liars attempting to destroy the nation.” Today’s target is the dreaded satellite dish. Without warning, and no official announcement, satellite dish owners are now expected to pay about three times the average annual wage for a license to watch news, sports and soap operas from the outside.

The license fee hike, from 6,000 kyat (see note on currency conversion) to 1 million kyat, comes as the Burmese junta is announcing oil and gasoline rationing. An anonymous official at the Myanmar Post and Telecom, quoted by AP, suggested the government wants to discourage watching those foreign TV channels. If satellite dish owners miss the January 30th deadline for payment they will face a penalty. A new satellite dish license will cost 2 million kyat.

When Pakistan’s government cracked down on satellite dish sales in early November the Secretary-General of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Syed Iqbal Haider called it “an attempt to turn Pakistan into Burma,” quoted by The Dawn.

Earlier this year the Burmese governments’ official English-language daily New Light of Myanmar cautioned citizens against tuning into foreign radio and TV broadcasts, calling them “skies of liars attempting to destroy the nation.” - Michael Hedges January 2, 2008


Note on currencies: Maybe I’m missing something. Reuters converts one $US to 1,280 Myanmar (Burma) kyats. Every other source follows, generally, this ratio. Old faithful XE.com, the on-line currency converter, reports one $US to 6.42 Myanmar kyats. Either way, it’s a lot of money.


Keywords:media in Burma,press freedom



ftm followup to:

Pimp your satellite dish
Yes, the basic garden variety – or rooftop – satellite dish is one ugly sight. In a recent beautification movement Turkmenistan’s president ordered them removed. Media watchers question whether he finds the dishes so ugly or the programs they receive.

ftm resources

no resources posted as of July 14, 2018

ftm Follow Up & Comments

no followup posted as of July 14, 2018

no comments posted as of July 14, 2018

Post your comment here

ftm Knowledge

Media in Spain - Diverse and Challenged – new

Media in Spain is steeped in tradition. yet challenged by diversity. Publishers hold great influence, broadcasters competing. New media has been slow to rise and business models for all are under stress. Rich in language and culture, Spain's media is reaching into the future and finding more than expected. 123 pages, PDF. January 2018

Order here

The Campaign Is On - Elections and Media

Elections campaigns are big media events. Candidates and issues are presented, analyzed and criticized in broadcast and print. Media is now more of a participant in elections than ever. This ftm Knowledge file reports on news coverage, advertising, endorsements and their effect on democracy at work. 84 pages. PDF (September 2017)

Order here

Fake News, Hate Speech and Propaganda

The institutional threat of fake news, hate speech and propaganda is testing the mettle of those who toil in news media. Those three related evils are not new, by any means, but taken together have put the truth and those reporting it on the back foot. Words matter. This ftm Knowledge file explores that light. 48 pages, PDF (March 2017)

Order here

More ftm Knowledge files here

Become an ftm Individual or Corporate Member to order Knowledge Files at no charge. JOIN HERE!

copyright ©2004-2018 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact UsSponsor ftm