China/Laos to launch extra digital channels
May 31, 2019
By Chris Forrester
According to China’s Xinhua news agency, China and neighbouring Laos have agreed to create more digital TV channels to allow their respective TV audiences a broader range of programmes.
Director General of Lao National Television, Bounchao Phichit, and Chairman of the Yunnan Media Group, He Yaning, signed an agreement on May 28th witnessed by Lao Minister for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Bosengkham Vongdara, and the visiting Yunnan provincial governor Ruan Chengfa.
Bounchao said the agreement will lead to more options on Lao Digital Television systems. LD Television, a Yunnan Media Group’s branch company in Laos, provides digital television content to Lao audiences.
The new channels will mean new programmes will be available in both the Lao and Chinese languages. News and current affairs, light entertainment, a Chinese Movie Theater and travel documentaries are among the current suggestions.
Local daily Vientiane Times on May 30th quoted Bounchao as saying that the new programmes will promote mutual understanding of the politics and cultures of the Lao and Chinese peoples. The digitisation of radio and television has enabled a greater number of people to access radio and television broadcasts than could previously when signals were solely analogue. The project signifies the further development of the Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcasting network in Laos.