Table 3. Ownership and political connections of main non-state news media (TV and Print), January 2015. Source: Based
on information from author’s interviews.
Outlet Name/Type
Parent Company
Funding/ Ownership
Politics
7 Days News
(Weekly & Daily Print)
Information Matrix
Co.Ltd
Thaung Su Nyein
(CEO)
Politically objective despite CEO being the
son of ex-Foreign Affairs Minister Win Aung
(1998–2004). Win Aung was purged from the
government in 2004 and sent to Insein prison,
where he died in 2009.
Democracy Today
(Weekly & Daily Print)
Yangon Media
Group
U Ko Ko
Swe Thanj Lwin
(not confirmed)
Close to regime. Promoted President Thein
Sein. Tabloid.
Free Voice of the
Netherlands
National
Endowment for
Democracy
Anti-regime, pro-democracy and human
rights. Based in Thailand and run by Burmese
expatriates. Began radio broadcasts from
Oslo in 1992. Satellite TV from 2005. In 2012
established operations inside Myanmar as
exiled journalists returned home.
Democratic Voice
of Burma (TV)
Eleven (Weekly &
Daily Print)
Eleven Media
Group
Than Htut Aung
(CEO)
CEO has strong editorial influence. Formerly
close to NLD. Given Media of the Year award
by Reporters without Borders in 2011.
Irrawaddy (Weekly
& Monthly Print
English & Burmese)
Irrawaddy
Publishing Group
Aung Zaw
Owner a former activist who left Myanmar in
1988. Former media in exile (from 1990).
Returned to Myanmar in 2012. Supportive
of NLD.
Mizzima (Daily &
Monthly Print)
Mizzima Media
Group
Serge Pun
Soe Myint
Sonny Swe
Politically independent, former media in exile.
Co-owner Soe Myint is a former activist who
hijacked a Thai passenger plane in 1990s to
publicize Myanmar’s struggle against its
military regime. Co-owner Serge Pun ranked
No.38 in Forbes Asia’s 2013 rich list
(Chairman SPA Group).
MRTV-4 (TV)
Forever Group
Win Maw
Generally avoids political reporting. Owner
Win Maw has government connections.
Pyi Myanmar
(Weekly & Daily Print)
Swesone Media
Group
Tin Tun Oo
Politically close to regime. In 2010, owner Tin
Tun Oo stood as a parliamentary candidate
for the military-backed Union Solidarity and
Development Party (USDP). Close to former
Information Minister Kyaw Hsan. Tabloid.
Skynet (Satellite TV)
Shwe Than Lwin
Company
Kyaw Win
Some pro-regime bias. Owner Kyaw Win has
government connections.
Snap Shot (Weekly
Print)
Myat Khine coowner (Editor and
co-owner)
Aung Kyaw Oo
(Financier)
Pro-regime. Co-owner Myat Khine close to
former Information Minister Kyaw Hsan. No
current close government connections.
Tabloid focusing on entertainment news.
Criticized for sensational coverage of
Rakhine conflict.
Sun Ray (Weekly,
name changed to
Asian Light, 2014)
Moe Heina
(not confirmed)
Htaw Kywe
(not confirmed).
Anti-government. Rumored co-owner Moe
Heina former student activist and exile. Now
US citizen. Htaw Kywe also former student
activist.
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