Forever Group | |
Industry: | Broadcasting |
Predecessors: | --> |
Founder: | Win Maw |
Successors: | --> |
Hq Location City: | Yangon |
Hq Location Country: | Myanmar |
Area Served: | Myanmar |
Key People: | Win Maw Thein Tun Aung |
Products: | MRTV-4, Channel 7, MMDC, Mandalay FM, and Pyone Play |
Owners: | --> |
Forever Group is a Burmese private media broadcasting company, with headquarters in Yangon, Myanmar. Forever Group is known for its close ties to the Burmese military.[1]
Forever Group was founded in 1996 in Myanmar by Win Maw, a former sailor who established the company to import and distribute computer and computer components.[2] [3] In 2004, it launched a national free-to-air television channel, MRTV-4, as a joint venture with Myanmar's Ministry of Information and state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television. The joint venture was intended to become a pro-military outlet to counter local and foreign independent media. In 2008, it launched Mandalay FM, a radio station.
In 2016, it partnered with Thaicom to boost HDTV coverage on a Thai satellite. In 2018, French-owned CANAL+ and Forever Group launched Canal+ (Myanmar) in the Burmese market.[4] In 2019, Forever Group produced Dancing with the Stars Myanmar, which premiered in October 2019.[5] In the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, Forever Group has organized a media propaganda campaign to counter anti-coup sentiment in the country.
Forever Group is led by Win Maw, and his deputy Thein Tun Aung, a graduate of the 22nd intake of the Defence Services Academy.
Forever Group owns several national television channels, radio stations, and streaming services, including MRTV-4, Channel 7, MMDC, Canal+ (Myanmar), Mandalay FM, and Pyone Play.