In North Korea, Manbang and Chill?

State-sponsored on-demand TV unveiled
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 22, 2016 7:03 PM CDT
In North Korea, Manbang and Chill?
This June 24, 2015, file photo, shows the Netflix Apple TV app icon, in South Orange, NJ.   (AP Photo/Dan Goodman, File)

North Korea has its own version of Netflix, apparently. Citing local media, the BBC reports that state broadcaster KCTV has unveiled a set-top box called Manbang that connects to state-controlled intranet and allows viewers to watch, on demand, five TV channels, a number of documentaries "about the leadership," and English or Russian language-learning material. However, experts say most North Koreans don't actually have connectivity to the service. The Memo notes that TV "is a novelty for many North Koreans," since interference from radio signals prevents many of them from getting a good signal, a problem Manbang is said to solve. (More North Korea stories.)

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