NHK makes first drama sales to Myanmar

by Jesse Whittock, June 11, 2013   

Japanese public broadcaster NHK has sold a pair of dramas to a satellite broadcaster in Asian neighbour Myanmar.


The deal to place serial drama Carnation and period drama Atsuhime on Mynamar National TV marks the first time NHK dramas have broadcast in the territory, which is currently making the transition from a military dictatorship to democracy.

Both shows will broadcast in mid-July on a new terrestrial service MNTV is launching in Myanmar’s three main cities: Yangon, Naypyidaw and Mandalay. Carnation – based on the life of Ayako Koshino, whose three daughters became fashion designers – will run stripped six days a week after the 7pm news; while Atsuhime (left), which is based on a ‘first lady’ living during the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate, will have a weekly night time slot.

They are part of a larger project involving the Japan International Broadcasting group, which includes a coproduced series with MNTV about Japanese culture and history.

NHK is applying for funds from the Japanese government in order to promote Japanese culture overseas. The broadcaster hopes the project will establish a new model for creating content outside of Japan.

NHK claims 4,600 of its programmes were broadcast in 37 territories and regions in the period between April 2012 and March 2013.

http://tbivision.com/news/2013/06/nhk-makes-first-drama-sales-to-myanmar/92502/