TV
Broadcasting and Its Development in DPRK
The development history of TV broadcasting in the DPRK is not so long. TV broadcasting was referred to the first time on September 1953, just after the Korean War. The war wreaked havoc on the whole country. In that situation, all people concentrated their energies on the postwar rehabilitation and construction of the country.
At
the same time, Kim Il Sung expounded a view on developing TV broadcasting in the
DPRK. The people then started to open up a new era of TV broadcasting. Of
course, the work was not smooth. Owing to the adverse consequences of the war,
capital and materials were not sufficient. There were too many bottlenecks and
difficulties.
However,
the people achieved great success in the spirit of self-reliance and hard work,
and after eight years of trial and errors, they were able to make a broadcasting
test for the first time in September 1961. Through the test they eliminated the
insufficiencies and upgraded their editing and technical ability.
At
last, the Central TV Broadcasting System of the DPRK was established and the
DPRK started formal broadcasting on March 3, 1963.
The
establishment of the Central TV Broadcasting System strengthened the publishing
and broadcasting industries of the DPRK and marked an epochal event in the
cultural life of the people.
After
the start of TV broadcasting, the work to telecast live programs spread briskly.
Thus, finally they succeeded in carrying live the whole proceedings of the 5 th
Congress of the WPK, held in October 1970. This success in live broadcasting
opened a new way to spread TV throughout the country.
They
intensified the work to provide equipment such as studio recording cameras and
cars for broadcasts relaying. As a result of the work of construction of
television relay towers all over the country, the televisionizing of the whole
country was accomplished in the early 1970s.
Then,
they promoted modernization of TV broadcasting positively and built up the
material and technical foundations for TV broadcasting in various kinds.
On
this basis, the Kaesong TV Broadcasting Station opened in April 1971
(reorganized into the Korea TV Broadcasting Station for Education and Culture in
February 1997), Mansudae TV Broadcasting Station in December 1973, while color
TV broadcasting started in April 1974.
Today,
North Korea’s TV broadcasting stations provided with modern equipment and
means broadcast programs with diverse content on different subjects.
The
Korea Central Broadcasting System offers news reports, programs on politics,
economic affairs, education, culture and at the same time provides
"programs for the agricultural working people" and on popular contests
such as "National Workers' song contests" and "Korean wrestling
matches."
The
Korea TV Broadcasting Station for Education and Culture give various information
needed in people’s practical life. These information programs help workers to
raise their knowledge levels of science, technology and culture and cultivate
their sprits of national identity and patriotism.
Mansudae
TV Broadcasting give culture and art programs mainly- various programs such as
foreign films, international sports, information on current international
affairs and development trends in technology.
The
Central Broadcasting System of the DPRK broadcasts 5 and a half hours (17:00 --
22:30) usually, and 13 and a half hour (9:00 -- 22:30) on Sundays.
The
Korea TV Broadcasting Station for Korean Education and Culture broadcasts 7
hours (15:00 -- 22:00) on Saturdays, and 10 hours (12:00 -- 22:00) on Sundays.
The
Mansudae TV Broadcasting Station broadcasts 3 hours (19:00 -- 22:00) on
Saturdays, and 9 hours (10:00 -- 13:00, 16:00 -- 22:00) on Sundays.
On
important national holidays, the broadcasting time of each station is the same
as on Sundays.
The
DPRK started relay reception by a communication satellite in October 1999.
Its
color television follows the PAL system with 625 scanning lines.
Copyright © 2003 The People's Korea. All rights reserved.