Manbang
Manbang 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 meaning "everywhere" or "every direction", conveying the on-demand nature of the service. Due to North Korea's isolationism, users connect to the service not by internet but via the state-controlled intranet using the IPTV protocol.
Content
In addition to on-demand video, Manbang is reported to offer viewers the ability to watch live streams of at least 5 channels:# | Channel | Korean name |
1 | Korean Central Television | 조선중앙텔레비죤 |
2 | Mansudae Television | 만수대텔레비죤 |
3 | Ryongnamsen Television | 룡남산텔레비죤 |
4 | Athletic TV | 체육텔레비죤 |
5 | Central Broadcasting | 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.
Worker education services for North Korean enterprises are also available via the Manbang service.