MNTV cuts ties with BBC over 'Rohingya' issue

International Desk: The state-owned television network MNTV said it has to end its broadcast partnership with the British broadcaster BBC because some of the reports it carried were something the state cannot allow.

The MNTV cited the use of the term ‘Rohingya’, which is not allowed by the government.

“The use of the term ‘Rohingya’ in their news is not officially acceptable in Myanmar,’’ said an official from MNTV.

If MNTV broadcast their news with this term, it will face sanctions from government agencies, so we have no choice but to stop our relationship with the BBC, the MNTV said.

Further complicating the matter was the announcement of the Myanmar Communication committee on August 27, which prohibited government media from reporting about the extremist ARSA terrorist group, the MNTV official said.

If they carried the reports of the BBC about the extremist ARSA terrorist group, the network’s executives would face action from their bosses.

MNTV has carried BBC bulletins since April 2014 and reaches an audience of 3.7 million.

Paul Rasmussen, communications manager of BBC International News, said the meddling by the MNTV in the editorial content of the BBC reports left it with no choice but to terminate the relationship.

“The attempts of MNTV to meddle in BBC news have led to end of our relationship,” he said.

“BBC World Service has thousands of partner broadcasters all over the world, and we are always open to new partnerships,” he added.

According to a statement of Francesca Unsworth, director of BBC World Service Group, “Any interference in our programmes by partner stations represents a serious breach of trust with our audiences, which the BBC cannot allow. We have experienced interference in our news bulletins since March and reminded MNTV that this breached their broadcasting agreement.”

Source: Myanmar Times

risingbd/Dhaka/September 07, 2017/A K Azad