Democratic Voice of Burma
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Voice of Burma is a non-profit media organization based in Oslo
, Norway
. Run by Burmese expatriates, it makes radio
and television
broadcasts aimed at providing uncensored news and information about Burma (also known as Myanmar), the country's military regime, and its political opposition.
In July 1992, DVB began broadcasting programming into Burma via shortwave
radio. According to DVB, these broadcasts reach millions of listeners.
On May 28, 2005, DVB expanded its programming and began satellite
television broadcasts into the country. The organization stated that it hoped to reach some ten million Burmese through this new effort (which it claims is the first free and independent Burmese language
television channel), which was funded in part by non-governmental organization
s such as Free Voice of the Netherlands, the National Endowment for Democracy
, and the Freedom of Expression Foundation.
radio from:
0600-0700 local time (2330-0030 UTC
) on 9490 kHz
(31 metre band) and 11595 kHz (25m)
1930-2030 local time(1300-1400 UTC) on 11560 kHz (25m)
2100-2200 local time (1430-1530 UTC) on 11515 kHz (25m)
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Run by Burmese expatriates, it makes radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasts aimed at providing uncensored news and information about Burma (also known as Myanmar), the country's military regime, and its political opposition.
In July 1992, DVB began broadcasting programming into Burma via shortwave
Shortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
radio. According to DVB, these broadcasts reach millions of listeners.
On May 28, 2005, DVB expanded its programming and began satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
television broadcasts into the country. The organization stated that it hoped to reach some ten million Burmese through this new effort (which it claims is the first free and independent Burmese language
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
television channel), which was funded in part by non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s such as Free Voice of the Netherlands, the National Endowment for Democracy
National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is a U.S. non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to promote US-friendly democracy by providing cash grants funded primarily through an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress...
, and the Freedom of Expression Foundation.
Mission
DVB states that is has four primary goals:- the provision of "accurate and unbiased news to the people of Burma"
- to "promote understanding and cooperation" among Burma's religious and ethnic populations
- to "encourage and sustain independent public opinion" and to provide for "social and political debate"
- to "impart the ideals of democracy and human rights" to the Burmese people
Shortwave broadcast schedule
As of 27 March 2011, the organization delivers programming daily via shortwaveShortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
radio from:
0600-0700 local time (2330-0030 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
) on 9490 kHz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
(31 metre band) and 11595 kHz (25m)
1930-2030 local time(1300-1400 UTC) on 11560 kHz (25m)
2100-2200 local time (1430-1530 UTC) on 11515 kHz (25m)
See also
- 2007 Burmese anti-government protests2007 Burmese anti-government protestsThe 2007 Burmese anti-government protests were a series of anti-government protests that started in Burma on 15 August 2007...
- National Coalition Government of the Union of BurmaNational Coalition Government of the Union of BurmaThe National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma is an administration claimed to be the government in exile of Burma. It has its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, United States...
- Burma VJBurma VJBurma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country is a 2008 documentary film directed by Anders Østergaard. It follows the September 2007 uprisings against the military regime in Burma. Some of it was filmed on hand-held cameras, and the footage was smuggled out of the country...
External links
- Official website
- NBC News report (video) Dawna FriesenDawna FriesenAward-winning journalist Dawna Friesen ushered in a new era at Global National as its second anchor and executive editor on September 20, 2010.Prior to joining Global National, Dawna served as NBC's foreign correspondent and anchor in London for 11 years...
, "Myanmar regime trying to suppress protestors", September 26, 2007 - Burmese officer wants asylum in Norway,
- Live streaming on Livestation
- Eyes of the Storm PBS documentary shot primarily by Democratic Voice of Burma