Television in North Korea

Television in North Korea uses a PAL 576i Systems D and K analog signal transmission system and 4:3 aspect ratio. Before 1993, North Korea was operating on the SECAM television system, which also uses 576i at 4:3. The four major television channels — Korean Central Television, Mansudae, Athletic Television and Ryongnamsan — broadcast over the air, as well as on a cable television system in Pyongyang; these channels are also available in a special app found on the government issued Samjiyon tablet computers, as well as on the Manbang IPTV service. North Korea uses DVB-T2 for Digital Terrestrial Television. Trials began in 2012. As of 2020, multiple set-top box models were available, giving access to the four broadcast channels. As of 2025, only Mansudae still broadcasts in standard definition, the other channels broadcast in high definition. Television sets sold in North Korea are able to operate only on the PAL and DVB-T2 systems, to prevent them from being able to pick up broadcasts from South Korea (which use NTSC System M analogue and ATSC digital) or China (which uses DTMB digital). However, broadcasts from Russia can be picked up, as they are also DVB-T2. Imported TV sets that are able to operate on both PAL and NTSC, such as those from Japan, have their NTSC abilities disabled by the government on import. ==Television channels==

As of 16 August 2016, there were four television channels in North Korea. All are state-owned and usually last from daytime to prime time. Korean Central Television This is the oldest and main television channel in North Korea, and it started regular broadcasting in 1963. As of 2017, it is the only North Korean TV channel broadcasting to the outside world via satellite television and IPTV aside from domestic transmissions. On satellite, KCTV is available in standard definition as well as in Full HD. Since 4 December 2017, a test air broadcast in the format 16:9 SDTV was started. Mansudae Television Mansudae Television broadcasts cultural programming, foreign films (dubbed into Korean), European football, international news and educational material with the occasional advert to Pyongyang. It opened on 1 December 1973. The Mansudae TV Broadcasting Station broadcasts three hours (19:00–22:00) on Fridays and Saturdays, and nine hours (10:00–13:00, 16:00–22:00) on Sundays. The de facto director of this channel is Yang Chun Won. The channel started broadcasting on 1 April 1971, under the name "Kaesong". On 10 October 1991, that channel transitioned to color broadcasting. On 1 February 1997 (some sources say 16 February 1997), the channel was rebranded as the "Korean Educational and Cultural Network". According to the North Korea Handbook, the rebranding was connected with the 55th anniversary of Kim Jong Il. The channel was broadcast on Channel 9 in Pyongyang from 18:00 to 22:00 on weekdays. Its schedule includes science documentaries in English, television lectures and educational programs for learning foreign languages. and on apps on Samjiyon tablets. It is available weekdays from 18:00 to 22:00. Athletic Television presents sports competitions, primarily domestic, and documentaries and programs about the history of sports in North Korea and the world. The channel broadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays from 18:00 to 22:00. ==Pyongyang TV Tower==

Frequency plan of Pyongyang TV Tower (2015) and the Manbang IPTV channels (2016). The VHF channels utilize System D and the UHF frequencies are System K. ==Content==

The programming content has changed over the years. International news is broadcast and documentaries are aired often and are usually on the topic of health, Korean and world history and geography. Since 2012, weather forecasting has become more accurate. ==See also==