The Ministry of Information announced this week that the state television agency plans to broadcast three new TV channels for free by September, according to the Director General Tint Swe.

One channel will exclusively cover the country’s legislative body. The two other channels will focus their coverage on agriculture and literature, respectively.

There are both private and public TV channels in Burma, but those that are broadcast free of charge – including MRTV-4 and Myawaddy TV – are government owned.

According to state officials, the government has been mulling a new broadcast law over the last year; however, there’s been no word on when the bill is likely to be passed.

“It is essential to have the law as our country is going through changes in the system,” deputy director general of Myanmar Radio and Television Tin Wan told DVB last April.

“The law is a must-have.”

Exile media outlets who are hoping to broadcast in the country are waiting for the new legislation to be passed before furthering their operational capacity within Burma.