Korean Central Television
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Korean Central Television (KCTV) is a national news broadcaster in North Korea and located in the capital, Pyongyang. KCTV is the only official source of television news for North Koreans. The reach is limited, as only around 40% of North Koreans own a television set (with most of the owners living in large cities such as Pyongyang).
The Central TV Broadcasting System of the DPRK was established on March 3, 1963, strengthening the publishing and broadcasting industries of the DPRK.
KCTV broadcasts reflect the official points of view of the North Korean government, and are made available internationally through satellite connections.
Other related television stations broadcasting local news and educational programming sanctioned by the government include:
Kaesong TV Broadcasting Station commenced broadcasting in April 1971 and later renamed the Korean Educational and Cultural TV Broadcasting Station in 1997.
Mansudae TV Broadcasting Station started operations in 1973 and provides culture and art programs (foreign films, international sports, information on current international affairs and development trends in technology).
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[edit] Coverage
KCTV broadcasts five and a half hours each night from 17:00 to 22:30 Monday through Saturday and 13½ hours from 9:00 to 22:30 on Sundays.
The Korean Educational and Cultural Broadcasting Station broadcasts seven hours from 15:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays and ten hours from 12:00 to 22:00 on Sundays.
The Mansudae TV Broadcasting Station broadcasts three hours from 19:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays and nine hours from 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 22:00 on Sundays.
On key national holidays, the broadcasting time of each station is the same as on Sundays.
The stations' output is dominated by propaganda programmes focusing on the history and achievements of the ruling Korean Workers' Party, the Korean People's Army (KPA) and Kim Jong-il. Topics covered range from new construction projects to history lessons about the accomplishments and past of Kim Jong-il, Kim Il-sung and the juche idea. As with most propaganda, the accuracy of these historic accounts are not always credible, with facts sometimes being distorted in favor of the government.
The following illustrates a typical day's broadcasting on KCTV on 8 October 2006:
- 0810 - News
- 0820 - Review of daily (North Korean) newspapers
- 0825 - Children's hour: children's film "Raccoon and Coyote"
- 0837 - Nature documentary: "Bird signals - Language"
- 0847 - Korean documentary: "We Will Follow To The End Of This World"
- 0942 - Episode of "Great History, Glorious Tradition" documentary series: "Leading The Final Attack Operation For the Fatherland's Liberation to Victory"
- 1000 - Report on Kim Jong-il meeting and congratulating KPA battalion commanders and political instructors
- 1007 - "Glorious 80 Years Under The Banner of 'Down-With-Imperialism'" series, featuring former Party History Institute Director Kang Sok-sung in a segment entitled "Eternal Asset That Cannot Be Exchanged For A Thousand Pieces of Gold"
- 1034 - "Great Leadership That Prepared Eternal Asset For Education Of Revolutionary Tradition" highlighting the Juche Tower in Pyongyang, described as an "immortal monumental edifice that will shine forever in history."
- 1100 - News
- 1133 - Report on Kim Jong-il meeting and congratulating KPA battalion commanders and political instructors
- 1140 - "During The Unforgettable Days", film about the Korean War
- 1327 - "One for all, all for one: true mark of life that is being engraved on the path of army assistance", featuring Mother Ho Un-chol and her family's efforts to support the country's "military-first" policy
- 1338 - Nature documentary: "Natural Treasure Yonjibong Pine Tree"
- 1345 - News highlights [1]
[edit] Technical data
North Korean broadcasters use PAL format for their broadcasting and introduced relay reception by a communication satellite in 1999.
KCTV is not to be mistaken for North Korea's news agency, Korean Central News Agency.
