List of television stations in Malaysia
Television broadcasting in Malaysia is provided by the federal government and respective private broadcasting companies. The government is committed to provide digital television to every Malaysian's household by end-2015 under DTTV (Digital Terrestrial Television) Project which is a part of national agenda by Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) and managed by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).[1] The analogue transmissions were completely turned off on 31 October 2019 and switched to full myFreeview Digital TV broadcast using DVB-T2 technology.[2] The switchover was done in stages by territory which begun in all peninsular states starting from the central and southern on 30 September 2019, north and east on 14 October 2019 and Sabah and Sarawak on 31 October 2019.[3] The digital TV transmissions' Service Level Availability (SLA) currently stood at 99.9% coverage rate.[4]
The first trial broadcasts of digital TV started in 2006 by government-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM). Some local TV channels already are broadcasting shows in HD for special occasions since 2008. Free-to-air and subscription-based television channels in Malaysia are available in HD standards through terrestrial, satellite and IP, as well as over OTT platform.
Fully government-owned television Free-to-air broadcast channels
Radio Televisyen Malaysia
DVB name | LCN | Launch date | Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00) | Programming language(s) | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TV1 | 101HD | 28 December 1963 | 24 hours | Malay and English | Nationwide |
TV2 | 102HD | 17 November 1969 | Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Indian (Tamil and Hindi), Korean and Turkish | ||
OKEY | 110HD | 21 March 2018 | Malay, English, Iban (Bumiputera Sarawak) and Kadazandusun (Bumiputera Sabah), Bajau | ||
RTM Sports | 111HD | 13 June 2018 | Malay and English | ||
Berita RTM | 123HD | 25 June 2020 | Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil |
Private television Free-to-air broadcast channels
Media Prima
DVB name | LCN | Launch date | Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00) | Programming language(s) | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TV3 | 103HD | 1 June 1984 | 24 hours | Malay, English, Indian (Hindi), Indonesian, Korean, Tagalog and Thai | Nationwide |
NTV7 | 107 | 7 April 1998 | 07:00 - 00:00 | Malay, English and Korean | |
8TV | 108 | 8 January 2004 | 07:00 - 01:30 | Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien), Korean and Thai | |
TV9 | 109 | 22 April 2006 | 24 hours | Malay and Korean | |
wowshop | 104(Malay) | 1 April 2016 | Malay and Chinese | ||
106(Chinese) | |||||
Drama Sangat | 105 | 27 October 2017 | Malay and Chinese |
Astro Malaysia Holdings
DVB name | LCN | Launch date | Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00) | Programming language(s) | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Go Shop | 120HD | 1 September 2019 | 24 hours | Malay | Nationwide |
Awesome Media Network Berhad
DVB name | LCN | Launch date | Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00) | Programming language(s) | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awesome TV | 112HD | 3 August 2020 | 24 hours | Malay, English, Indian (Hindi), Indonesian, Korean and Thai | Nationwide |
Semi-government television Free-to-air broadcast channels
Alhijrah Media Corporation
DVB name | LCN | Launch date | Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00) | Programming language(s) | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TV Alhijrah | 114HD | 7 December 2010 | 24 hours | Malay, Arabic and English | Nationwide |
Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia
DVB name | LCN | Launch date | Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00) | Programming language(s) | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bernama TV | 121 | 28 February 2008 | 24 hours | Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil | Nationwide |
Sarawak Media Group
DVB name | LCN | Launch date | Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00) | Programming language(s) | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TV Sarawak | 122HD | 10 October 2020 | 24 hours | Malay, English, Iban and Chinese (Mandarin) | Nationwide |
Subscription-based providers
Satellite television
- Astro- View full channel listings.
- NJOI- Free satellite TV from Astro, as launched in March 2012, is a co-operation between the government and Astro.
- Sirius TV (Available soon)- View full channel listings.
Internet Video Streaming / OTT Platform
Other television stations
Former or defunct channels and networks
Former Astro channels (by timeline)
- 1998
- Asia Business News and CNBC Asia was merged with CNBC Asia was initially named CNBC Asia Business News on 1 February 1998.
- CNBC Asia Business News was rebranded to CNBC Asia on 1 July 1998.
- NBC Asia was rebranded to National Geographic Channel on 20 July 1998.
- MGM Gold was rebranded to Cinemax on 24 August 1998.
- 2000
- Star Plus was rebranded to Star World on 1 July 2000.
- 2001
- Star Asian Movies was rebranded to Star Chinese Movies on New Year's Day (1 January) 2001 at midnight stroke.
- 2003
- Star Chinese Movies was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 31 August 2003 at 11:59pm. Replaced by Astro Box Office, BBC World, Bloomberg Television, CCTV-9, Astro Shuang Xing, Celestial Movies Asia and Astro Prima on Astro was launched on 1 September 2003 at midnight stroke.
- 2006
- TechTV was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 March 2006.
- NHK World TV was replaced with NHK World Premium on 1 May 2006.
- 2008
- BBC World was rebranded to BBC World News on 21 April 2008.
- Discovery Real Time was replaced with Discovery Turbo because due to its rebranding in October 2008.
- 2009
- Astro News (carries program from DW-TV, Al Jazeera and Australia Network) was ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on 1 March 2009. Replaced with Astro Ria from Mio TV on 23 March 2009 while DW-TV programmes carried by Bernama TV.
- Astro Kirana was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 18 May 2009. Replaced by Astro Citra on 1 June 2009.
- BBC Entertainment was replaced with Bio. Channel on 1 December 2009.
- 2010
- Eastern Television Asia was replaced with CTi TV on 1 January 2010.
- Astro Aruna was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 February 2010 because due to low viewership. Replaced by Bintang and Pelangi on 11 July 2011.
- CCTV-9 was rebranded to CCTV News on 26 April 2010 at 7:00pm.
- Channel [V] was ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on 16 June 2010. Replaced by FOX Asia.
- Hallmark Channel was replaced by Diva Universal on 19 September 2010.
- Granada TV was rebranded to ITV Granada on 1 November 2010.
- 2011
- Playhouse Disney was rebranded to Disney Junior on 11 July 2011.
- 2012
- Star Movies was rebranded to Fox Movies Premium on New Year's Day (1 January) 2012 at midnight stroke.
- WaTV was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 March 2012. Replaced by Celestial Movies HD and KIX HD while programs broadcast by the channel is now carried by Astro AEC.
- B4U was replaced by Astro Bella on 5 March 2012.
- Astro @15 was ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on 1 May 2012 at midnight stroke. Replaced by Astro Mustika HD on 21 May 2012 to while programs broadcast by the channel carried by other Astro's Malay channels.
- 2013
- Astro Stocklink was ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on New Year's Day (1 January) 2013 at midnight stroke.
- ESPN Asia, ESPNews and ESPN HD was rebranded to Fox Sports, Fox Sports News and Fox Sports Plus HD on 28 January 2013.
- Radio Mosaic was ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on 9 February 2013 because due to same broadcast of radio channels.
- Bio. Channel was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 14 June 2013 at midnight stroke. Replaced by Lifetime.
- BeTV HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 26 August 2013 at midnight stroke. Replaced by HITS TV on 16 November 2014 at the same channel number (Channel 720) then moved to Channel 706 on 1 April 2020.
- 2014
- Jia Yu was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 April 2014 at midnight stroke. A temporary channel was broadcast for a month before being replaced by Kah Lai Toi on 1 May 2014 at 6:00am.
- DIVA Universal was replaced with DIVA on 16 June 2014.
- Discovery Turbo was replaced by DMAX on 7 July 2014.
- Discovery Home & Health Asia was changed its name to Eve on 1 August 2014.
- Star Sports and Fox Sports Plus HD was rebranded to Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 3 which Fox Sports News was replaced by Fox Sports 3 on 15 August 2014. Fox Sports News broadcast on Astro Go.
- Astro Zhi Zun HD was rebranded to Astro Wah Lai Toi HD (Channel 310) on 6 October 2014.
- The SD version of FOX (Channel 710) was officially ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on 16 November 2014. Upgraded to FOX HD (Channel 724).
- 2015
- iView was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 12 January 2015. Replaced by NJOI version to continue on 20 January 2015.
- Golf Channel in SD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 26 February 2015.
- 2016
- Astro Hitz was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 16 May 2016 at midnight stroke because due to low viewership and declining its popularity.
- Sundance Channel HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2016 at midnight stroke due to low popularity. Replaced by BOO on 31 October 2016.
- Zee Variasi was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on Astro on 1 October 2016 at midnight strike. Replaced by a new Hindi HD channel called Tara HD on 19 October 2016.
- CCTV News was rebranded to CGTN on New Year's Eve (31 December) 2016 at 12:00pm.
- 2017
- ITV Choice was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on Astro on 16 January 2017 at 12:15am due to low viewership.
- TVi was replaced with TV5 on 1 April 2017 (rebranded back with TVi on 8 April 2017) due to its rebranding.
- Fox Movies Premium was rebranded to Fox Movies on 10 June 2017.
- Go ASEAN was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 12 June 2017 at 2:00am. Go ASEAN remains its programmes on Tonton and DimSum.
- 2017
- Fox Sports News broadcast on Astro Go was ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on 29 April 2017.
- Kah Lai Toi was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 October 2017 at midnight stroke because due to low viewership.
- Star World was rebranded to Fox Life on 1 October 2017 at 9:00am.
- Life Inspired was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission because due to low viewership on 7 October 2017 at midnight stroke.
- 2018
- TVi was replaced with TV Okey because due to its launched on 21 March 2018.
- ZooMoo was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 April 2018 because due to migrating further losses by the company. The first Kids channels to ceased on Astro.
- Astro Mustika HD was rebranding to Astro Citra HD on 1 October 2018 at midnight stroke.
- Astro Bella was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 October 2018 at midnight stroke because due to low viewership. Replaced by Naura HD on the same package with completely different content.
- Eve was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 November 2018.
- Lifetime and FYI was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 14 December 2018 (But Lifetime Channel Programming Block reviral on Hello Channel 702).
- 2019
- Astro Maya HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 14 January 2019 at midnight stroke. Replaced by Astro Prima HD and Astro Oasis HD.
- The SD version of Disney XD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 March 2019.
- Zee Tamil HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on Channel 232 on 1 March 2019 in Samrat pack because this channel is launching on Astro without Unifi TV permission on 19 September 2018. The Chakravathy pack offerings was relaunched on 1 June 2020 on Channel 235.
- Channel NewsAsia was rebranded to CNA on 29 March 2019 because due to Channel NewsAsia celebrated its 20th anniversary.
- Astro Xi Yue HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2019 at midnight stroke. The first Chinese HD channels to be ceased on Astro. Replaced by iQIYI HD starting 17 July 2019 on the same channel number (Channel 300).
- A-List HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 2 August 2019 at midnight stroke because due to low viewership, but Astro OD (On Demand) service continued reserved.
- Tara HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 October 2019. Replaced by Colors TV.
- 2020
- DIVA and E! Entertainment was ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on New Year's Day (1 January) 2020 at midnight stroke, but Astro OD (On Demand) service continued reserved. The first historic channels to be ceased on Astro. Replaced by Comedy Central at 6:05am. Later, DIVA and E! Entertainment shows moved to Hello (Channel 702 (previously Channel 110)) from August 2020 until now.
- Setanta Sports was replaced by Rugby Pass TV on 29 January 2020.
- The SD version of Astro Wah Lai Toi was officially ceased transmission and ceased broadcasting on 1 April 2020 (During Merged with TVB Jade HD, On 1 May 2020, Astro Wah Lai Toi HD was transitioned to VOD).
- The broadcasts of TVB Classic Movies was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on Astro on 5 April 2020 at 12:15am and Asian Action Channel was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on Astro on 5 April 2020 at 12:30am respectively was under Jade pack.
- Bintang and Pelangi (offered under Indo Pek) was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 June 2020 at midnight stroke because Astro combined two new channels under Indo Pek offerings, Astro Rania HD and Astro Aura HD which were launched on 23 May 2020.
- Jaya TV, Raj TV and Kalaignar TV was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 June 2020. Replaced by Zee Tamil HD at 12:05am which is relaunch at same date.
- Two Phoenix Television channels: Phoenix Chinese Channel (Channel 318 HD/Channel 358 SD) and Phoenix InfoNews Channel (Channel 323 SD) was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2020 at midnight stroke because due to unable renewal contract. The second Chinese HD channels and second historic channels to be ceased on Astro and replaced by TVB News Channel (Channel 318 HD) and TVBS News (Channel 323 HD) on same day at 6:00am and relaunched on new channels on 9 July 2020 on Two Phoenix Television channels: Phoenix Chinese Channel (Channel 325 HD) and Phoenix InfoNews Channel (Channel 326 HD) respectively in HD only.
- The SD version of Astro First was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2020.
- Astro Vellithirai and Astro Vinmeen HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission from Singtel TV on 1 July 2020. Replaced by KTV HD and Sun Music.
- The SD version of Astro Best was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 29 July 2020 while still retaining the HD version of the channel.
- The SD version of Fox Sports channels and Eurosport was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 16 November 2020 while still retaining the HD version of the channel.
- The SD version of Astro SuperSport channels was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 30 November 2020 while still retaining the HD version of the channel.
- 2021
- Three Disney channels: Disney Channel HD, Disney Junior HD and Disney XD HD was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on New Year's Day (1 January) 2021 at midnight stroke because due to arrival of Disney+ in Malaysia. The first HD Kids channels to be ceased on Astro. Replaced by Nick Jr. HD and Boomerang HD which launched on 15 December 2020 on the same package (Kids Pack). The first HD Kids channels to be ceased on Astro.
- Comedy Central Asia was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on Astro and Unifi TV, barely 13 month after launch on Astro because due to officially ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission in Asia on 1 February 2021 at midnight stroke, but VOD service continued reserved. Astro launched Awesome TV (123) on 18 January 2021.
- The SD version of TVB Xing He was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 February 2021 while still retaining the HD version of the channel.
- All HD/SD simulcast channels was ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 April 2021 at midnight stroke while still retaining the all HD channel is fully.
Former Unifi TV channels
- 2013
- SS TV, replaced with Polimer Channel on 1 January 2013.
- Nat Geo Music, replaced by V HD International on 1 September 2013.
- 2014
- KidsCo, ceased broadcasting on 10 February 2014. The first HyppTV channel to be ceased transmission.
- EMAS ceased broadcasting on 1 August 2014. The second HyppTV channel to be ceased transmission. replaced by Hypp Sensasi HD on 4 August 2014.
- UTV Stars and TRACE Sports ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 30 September 2014.
- 2015
- BBC Entertainment, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 October 2015, replaced by BBC First on 1 October 2016.
- FOX Football Channel HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 October 2015 and replaced by FOX Sports 2 on 26 August 2016.
- 2016
- Discovery Kids ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 16 January 2016.
- FashionTV HD, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 May 2016.
- Hikmah, replaced by Hypp Salam on 5 June 2016.
- Astro SuperSport HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Fox Sports 3 on 26 August 2016.
- Astro SuperSport 2 HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016. replaced by Fox Sports News on 26 August 2016.
- Astro Vaanavil ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Zee Tamil on 1 April 2017. Later, Zee Tamil, replaced by Colors Tamil on 1 April 2019 respectively in HD only.
- Makkal TV ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Zee TV on 1 April 2017. Later, Zee TV, replaced by Colors on 1 April 2019.
- Astro Oasis and Astro Awani ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016.
- Dushh FM ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at 5 November 2016.
- TV Direct Showcase ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 December 2016.
- 2017
- MNC Channel, replaced by Pesona HD on 1 April 2017.
- Two UTV Bindass Television channels, Bindass and Bindass Play ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 April 2017. Replaced by Zee Cinema, Sony SAB and Sony SET. Later, Zee Cinema, replaced by Colors Cineplex on 1 April 2019.
- Fox Sports News ceased its broadcast on 29 April 2017, barely 9 month after launch the channel.
- Syfy HD and Universal Channel HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2017.
- HyppSports 4 HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2017. Replaced By Unifi Sports 4 on 28 February 2020.
- when MTV Live HD began broadcasting on Astro version on 11 February 2021, HyppTV introduces MTV Asia HD on 1 August 2017.
- Motorvision HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 September 2017.
- 2018
- Capital TV, replaced by Channel W on 3 January 2018.
- V HD International, Channel [V] Taiwan and FOX Crime HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 June 2018 due to low rating. The first Chinese Channel to be ceased on Unifi TV and replaced by CJ WOW SHOP and Dunia Sinema.
- 1News Channel ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 July 2018 due to the low popularity.
- HyppSports HD and HyppSports 2 HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 August 2018 that ASN program suppliers were ceases operations in Malaysia and Singapore and replaced by Sports Illustrated TV until ceased its broadcast on 1 May 2019.
- TVB8 and Stingray iConcerts HD was discontinued and terminated at midnight, 1 September 2018. The second Chinese Channel to be ceased on Unifi TV.
- 2019
- Channel W HD, HyppSports 3 HD and Outdoor Channel ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 January 2019 due to low popularity of Outdoor Channel.
- Now Chinese Drama International Version ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 March 2019.
- Sony Channel HD and MUTV HD, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 June 2019 due to low popularity of MUTV HD.
- Bloomberg Television and PlayBox channel were discontinued and terminated at midnight, 1 September 2019.
- RED by HBO & BabyFirst was discontinued and terminated at midnight, 1 October 2019.
- Now International HD was disabled and terminated at midnight, 15 November 2019.
- 2020
- now Baogu HD transition to VOD service on 1 March 2020.
- UTV Movies, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 July 2020. Replaced by YuppThirai on 8 July 2020
- When Animax HD was ceased on 1 July 2020 due to low popularity.
- 2021
- Comedy Central Asia ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 February 2021.
Other pay television providers
TV channels
- 1999
- MetroVision, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 November 1999. Replaced with 8TV on 8 January 2004.
- 2005
- 2006-2008
- Astro removed TV Pendidikan in 2006. Later, TV Pendidikan is moved to TV9 and ceased its broadcast in 2008. Replaced by EDUWEBTV.
- 2012
- 2017
- TV5, originally launched in April 2017 to replace TVi. However, the channel suddenly ceased its operation in less than a month. TVi returned to its broadcast in the same month.
- Hao Xiang Shopping Channel ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2017 with a rebranding of this channel.[6]
- 2018
- 2019
- CJ WOWSHOP, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 January 2019, later, CJ WOWSHOP rebroadcast again at 15 April 2019 (excluding Unifi TV).
- Channel W was discontinued on 1 April 2019. Replaced with TV Sarawak in myFreeview on 6 February 2021.
References
- MCMC (8 November 2012). "MCMC Shortlists Three Companies for Round 2 in Bid for Digital TV Infrastructure Tender" (PDF). mcmc.gov.my.
- DTVE Reporter (19 December 2019). "Malaysia completes DTT switchover, launches myFreeview". Digital TV Europe.
- Sofia Digital. "Malaysia completes switch-over to digital TV powered by Sofia Digital's DVB head-end technology". sofiadigital.com.
- KKMM (12 August 2020). "Bernama : 12 Aug 2020 : Parliament: MYTV monitors quality of digital TV broadcast". kkmm.gov.my.
- Mohsin Abdullah (19 October 2012). "WBC employees seek HR ministry's help". Fz.com.
- enjoytvmy. "enjoytvmy". Facebook.com.
- Zam Yusa (21 March 2018). "Najib launches new TV channel for Sabah and Sarawak". Free Malaysia Today.
Further reading
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford (2020), "Malaysia", Digital News Report, UK, OCLC 854746354