Forever Group Explained

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]

History

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.

Leadership

Forever Group is led by Win Maw, and his deputy Thein Tun Aung, a graduate of the 22nd intake of the Defence Services Academy.

Subsidiaries

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.

Notes and References

  1. News: Solomon and Than Htike Oo . 2008-03-20 . Junta Approves FM Station For Mandalay . The Mizzima News .
  2. Web site: Mike . 2022-12-15 . Notorious Crony Organizing Myanmar Junta Propaganda Campaigns . 2023-02-11 . The Irrawaddy . en-US.
  3. Web site: Forever Group signs new deal with Thaicom satellite . 2023-02-11 . Mizzima Myanmar News and Insight . en.
  4. Web site: CANAL+ launches pay TV in Myanmar with Forever Group . 2023-02-11 . Digital TV News . en-GB.
  5. News: 2019-04-25 . 'Dancing with the Stars' waltzes to Myanmar . Television Business International .