North Korean TV EXPLAINED | DPRK Television Channels

Summary

This video explores the landscape of North Korean television, highlighting the evolution and offerings of Korean Central Television (KCTV), the primary and oldest channel among four. It delves into the daily schedule, which includes documentaries, news, and children's programs, and how it adapts to major events. The video also introduces other channels like Mansu Day TV, Ryongnamsan TV, and Sports TV, each with unique focuses. It discusses technological advancements like the Manbang set-top box and the Pyongyang TV Tower's role in broadcasting. The narrative concludes with a look at the future of North Korean television, suggesting continuous development and improvement.

Takeaways

• 📺 KCTV (Korean Central Television) is the primary and oldest television channel in North Korea, launched in 1963.
• 🖥 KCTV's programming includes news, documentaries, movies, and children's shows, but the schedule can change for significant events like military parades or visits by leaders.
• 🎥 The channel expanded its broadcast hours from starting at 3 PM to 9 AM during the COVID-19 pandemic, a schedule that remains in place.
• 🎞 The broadcast day begins with the national anthem and patriotic imagery, followed by a welcome message and a rundown of the day's schedule.
• 📅 The news airs at 5 PM and 8 PM, featuring headlines, a newspaper review, and the weather report. Major events are often broadcast, sometimes overriding regular programming.
• 📽 Mansudae Television, launched in 1983, specializes in entertainment and foreign films, and broadcasts on weekends. It covers both Pyongyang and rural areas.
• 🎓 Yongnamsan TV focuses on educational programming aimed at university students, often including scientific content and foreign language programs.
• ⚽ Sports TV airs on weekends from 6 PM to 10 PM, focusing entirely on sports, including football and taekwondo competitions.
• 📡 All channels are broadcast from the Pyongyang TV Tower, a 150-meter-tall structure built in 1967 to improve signal reach.
• 💻 The Manbang set-top box, launched around 2015-2016, allows North Koreans to stream live TV, access on-demand content, and read news headlines, expanding TV accessibility, especially in rural areas.

Q & A

What is the logo in the top left corner of the screen when watching North Korean broadcasts?

The logo is the symbol of Korean Central Television (KCTV), which is the primary television channel in the DPRK.

How many television channels are broadcast from Pyongyang?

There are four television channels broadcast from Pyongyang, with KCTV being the primary channel.

When did Korean Central Television (KCTV) begin public broadcasting?

Public broadcasting on KCTV began on the 3rd of March 1963.

What was the original name of KCTV, and when did it change to its current name?

KCTV originally operated as Pyongyang Television and changed its name to Korean Central Television in 1973.

What type of programs can one expect to see on a typical day on KCTV?

A typical day on KCTV includes documentaries, special programs about Korean history, Korean movies, children's programs, and news broadcasts at 5 pm and 8 pm.

How has the broadcasting schedule of KCTV been affected by major events?

Major events such as military parades, foreign visits, and significant summits often override the typical schedule and are broadcast live or recorded and edited for later broadcast.

What is Mansudae Television and what type of programming does it specialize in?

Mansudae Television, launched in 1983, specializes in entertainment programming and broadcasts only on weekends.

What is the significance of the name 'Yongyangsan TV' and what is its focus?

Yongyangsan TV is an educational channel named after the hill where Kim Il-sung University is located, focusing on a variety of subjects targeting university students.

When did Sports TV begin broadcasting and what is its programming focus?

Sports TV began broadcasting in 2010 and focuses entirely on sports programming, including football matches and taekwondo competitions.

What is the significance of the Pyongyang TV Tower and when was it constructed?

The Pyongyang TV Tower, constructed in 1967, is a 150-meter tall concrete tower that improves the broadcasting radius of TV channels and radio in the DPRK.

How has the television broadcasting in the DPRK evolved since the 1960s?

Television broadcasting in the DPRK has expanded, improved, and developed with on-demand services, improved broadcasting resolutions, and the use of increasingly sophisticated graphics, drones, and new camera angles.