Mansudae Television

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Mansudae Television
Mansudae
CountryNorth Korea
Broadcast areaPyongyang, Sinuiju, Sariwon (via Manbang IPTV)
Networkcable, IPTV
Programming
Language(s)Korean
History
Launched1 December 1973 (1973-12-01),
November 2015
Availability
Terrestrial
Analog VHFChannel 5 (77.25 MHz) in Pyongyang
Mansudae Television
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
萬壽臺 텔레비죤
Revised RomanizationMansudae Tellebijyon
McCune–ReischauerMansudae T'ellebijyon

Mansudae Television (Korean: 만수대 텔레비죤) is a state-owned entertainment television channel based in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.[1] It broadcasts movies, selected foreign films and entertainment programming every weekend with occasional advertising.[2] Mansudae began transmissions on December 1, 1973, and broadcasts for three hours (19:00–22:00) on Saturdays, and nine hours (10:00–13:00, 16:00–22:00) on Sundays.[3]

From its inception to July 13, 2015, broadcasting was carried out on channel 5 from the Pyongyang TV Tower and a special app on the Samjiyon tablet computer. In August 2016, the channel was added to the Manbang IPTV service, being available on the second button of the "Aircast" section.

External image
Mansudae Television
image icon Screenshot from "Skydiving from space" film on Mansudae TV air

Temporary closure[edit]

In July 2015, Mansudae Television ceased broadcasting[4] for unknown reasons. However, two reasons were considered in the Newstopia online edition (South Korea): According to one reason, this step could be taken by the North Korean authorities to restrict the access of Pyongyang residents to foreign content broadcast on the channel. According to the other, reported by Radio Free Asia, in the editorial board there was an incident with unfiltered content, shown on air on the channel.[5] It was also reported that the launch of the broadcasting of the new Athletic Television, carried out on August 15 of the same year, was made at a frequency previously owned by Mansudae Television.[6] As a result of internal checks of the government of North Korea, the television channel was rehabilitated only in 2016 (according to other sources - in November 2015). The message of South Korean news agency Yonhap from May 18, 2016, reported that access to the television channel was proposed to be carried out through cable networks.[7]

Pay channel proposal[edit]

In March 2018, Daily NK reported about the proposal by the North Korean government to convert the broadcasting of Mansudae Television on the principle of a paid subscription;[8] however, according to the Daily NK, it was not established that the project is supposed to be carried out using traditional cable TV or Manbang IPTV. One of the main reasons for the decision of the North Korean government was the high popularity of films and programs that appear on the channel. The price was set at 650 won.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Understanding North Korea: Totalitarian dictatorship, Highly centralized economies, Grand Socialist Family. Seoul: Institute for Unification Education, Ministry of Unification. 2015. p. 342. GGKEY:Q35FXTAE44S.
  2. ^ Andray Abrahamian (17 June 2016). "Rise in advertising as North Korea embraces nascent consumerism". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  3. ^ "TV Broadcasting and Its Development in DPRK". The People's Korea (188). 2003. Archived from the original on 2015-08-01.
  4. ^ "외화 대신 스포츠 채널 신설…北 주민 '부글'". m.ichannela.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  5. ^ "RFA "北, 외부영상 유포 적발…만수대TV 제작진 숙청"". 뉴스토피아. November 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "[국민정책평가신문] 외화방영 北만수대TV 방송 중단". 국민정책평가신문. August 18, 2015. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  7. ^ ""北, 외국인 전용 만수대TV 모든 주민에 개방"". m.yna.co.kr.
  8. ^ Jin, Kang Mi (March 21, 2018). "North Korean authorities sell restricted TV channel to residents for cash".