Mongolian Radio and TV Heading towards Public Service Broadcasting
19-11-2004 (New Delhi)
© UNESCO/AIBD
Mongolia’s National Radio and Television Service (MNRTV) is facing major challenges as it emerges from 70 years of government control to become an editorially independent public service broadcasting organization.
As the country’s parliament debates legislation to make MNRTV independent, the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) has launched a project, implemented by UNESCO together with the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), to help in the transition.
The AIBD project consultant David Mould, Professor of Telecommunications at Ohio University (U.S.A.), was in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaan Baatar, in October to meet with senior management, conduct a management workshop for department heads, and open discussions on programming changes with departmental staff. The two-week program ended with a seminar on public service broadcasting, attended by over 60 representatives from government ministries, parliament, non-governmental and civil society organizations and MNRTV.
MNRTV is currently the only national broadcaster in a country twice the size of France but with a population of only 2.5 million. Although mineral resources are being developed, at least half the population is rural, dependent on rearing livestock. Radio is the best medium to reach this population, but there are serious obstacles-a traditional and rigid broadcast schedule, a lack of live information and entertainment programmes, poor technical facilities, and power cuts that take regional transmitters off the air. Most programmes come from the capital, and there is little coverage of local and regional issues. Television, which reaches Ulaan Baatar and provincial centers, needs to revitalize its creative content, and free itself from commercial pressures.
“It’s going to take major investments-in technology and human resources-for MNRTV to meet its mandate as a public service broadcaster and really serve the whole country,” said Mould. “MNRTV needs to cut its workforce - a change that will come at a social cost - and at the same time provide incentives to keep its most creative staff, and provide training programmes.”
“There needs to be a change in the overall working culture,” Mould added. “One that recognizes that MNRTV is there to serve the needs and interests of listeners and viewers. I’m encouraged that many people in MNRTV understand the concept of public service broadcasting, but it’s going to take resources-and the support of UNESCO and donor agencies-to improve programmes and technical facilities.”
The AIBD project consultant David Mould, Professor of Telecommunications at Ohio University (U.S.A.), was in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaan Baatar, in October to meet with senior management, conduct a management workshop for department heads, and open discussions on programming changes with departmental staff. The two-week program ended with a seminar on public service broadcasting, attended by over 60 representatives from government ministries, parliament, non-governmental and civil society organizations and MNRTV.
MNRTV is currently the only national broadcaster in a country twice the size of France but with a population of only 2.5 million. Although mineral resources are being developed, at least half the population is rural, dependent on rearing livestock. Radio is the best medium to reach this population, but there are serious obstacles-a traditional and rigid broadcast schedule, a lack of live information and entertainment programmes, poor technical facilities, and power cuts that take regional transmitters off the air. Most programmes come from the capital, and there is little coverage of local and regional issues. Television, which reaches Ulaan Baatar and provincial centers, needs to revitalize its creative content, and free itself from commercial pressures.
“It’s going to take major investments-in technology and human resources-for MNRTV to meet its mandate as a public service broadcaster and really serve the whole country,” said Mould. “MNRTV needs to cut its workforce - a change that will come at a social cost - and at the same time provide incentives to keep its most creative staff, and provide training programmes.”
“There needs to be a change in the overall working culture,” Mould added. “One that recognizes that MNRTV is there to serve the needs and interests of listeners and viewers. I’m encouraged that many people in MNRTV understand the concept of public service broadcasting, but it’s going to take resources-and the support of UNESCO and donor agencies-to improve programmes and technical facilities.”
© UNESCO/AIBDRelated themes/countries
· News Archives: 2004
· Public Service Broadcasting: News Archives 2004
· Mongolia: News Archives
Share this story:
Contact information
- UNESCO New Delhi
Source