Manbang

Manbang (Korean: 만방) are a series of state-owned digital media players issued by North Korea's Korean Central Broadcasting Committee, providing over-the-top content in the form of channels. Created in response to streaming platforms like Netflix and Roku in the west, the name comes from the Korean word 만방 (manbang) meaning "everywhere" or "every direction", conveying the on-demand nature of the service.[3] Due to North Korea's isolationism, users connect to the service not by internet but via the state-controlled intranet using the IPTV protocol.[2][4]

Manbang
만방
DeveloperKorean Central Broadcasting Committee
TypeDigital media player
Release dateAugust 2016
Operating systemAndroid 4.4.2[1]
ConnectivityRCA Cable and HDMI[2]

Content

In addition to on-demand video, Manbang is reported to offer viewers the ability to watch live streams of at least 5 channels:[5]

#ChannelKorean name
1Korean Central Television조선중앙텔레비죤
2Mansudae Television만수대텔레비죤
3Ryongnamsen Television룡남산텔레비죤
4Athletic TV (sports)체육텔레비죤
5Central Broadcasting (Voice of Korea)중앙방송

Users may also find political information regarding the Supreme Leader and Juche ideology, and read articles from the newspaper Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).[4]

Worker education services for North Korean enterprises are also available via the Manbang service.[4]

Availability

According to Korean Central Television (KCTV), viewers can use the service not only in Pyongyang, but also in Sariwon and Sinuiju - a region in which KCTV states demand for the equipment is particularly high, with several hundred users in the region.[2]

References
  1. Williams, Martyn (2019-02-22). "Manbang IPTV Service in Depth". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  2. Ji, Dagyum (18 August 2016). "Netflix style video-on-demand comes to North Korea, state TV shows". NK News. Korea Risk Group. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  3. Lepp, Mike (August 25, 2016). "'Manbang' is North Korea's Netflix". News Channel 6. WJBF. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019.
  4. Williams, Martyn (22 February 2019). "Manbang IPTV Service in Depth". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  5. Williams, Martyn (August 17, 2016). "Now Streaming: Intranet Protocol TV Service Arrives in North Korea". 38 North. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018.


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