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 Digital 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.
Currently there are only two free-to-air digital terrestrial platform with high definition digital television channels in Malaysia, named as myFreeview and NJOI.
Government-owned television free-to-air broadcast channelsEdit
| DVB name
|
LCN
|
Launch date
|
Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00)
|
Programming language(s)
|
Availability
|
|---|
| TV1
|
101HD |
28 December 1963
|
24 hours
|
Malay
|
Nationwide
|
|---|
| TV2
|
102HD |
17 November 1969
|
Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin), Indian (Hindi, Tamil and Telugu), Korean and Turkish
|
|---|
| OKEY
|
110HD |
21 March 2018
|
Malay, English, Indonesian, Indian (Tamil), Iban (Bumiputera Sarawak), Kadazandusun (Bumiputera Sabah) and Bajau
|
|---|
| Sukan RTM
|
111HD |
1 April 2021
|
Malay
|
|---|
| Berita RTM
|
123HD |
25 June 2020
|
Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin), Indian (Tamil), Iban (Bumiputera Sarawak), Kadazandusun (Bumiputera Sabah) and Bajau
|
|---|
| TV6
|
113HD |
1 March 2021
|
06:00 - 02:00
|
Malay
|
|---|
Over-the-top (OTT)Edit
Private television free-to-air broadcast channelsEdit
Awesome Media Network Sdn BhdEdit
DNF Group Sdn BhdEdit
| DVB name
|
LCN
|
Launch date
|
Broadcast hours (UTC+08:00)
|
Programming language(s)
|
Availability
|
|---|
| SUKE TV[6] |
116HD |
28 March 2022
|
24 hours
|
Malay
|
Nationwide
|
|---|
Semi government television free-to-air broadcast channelsEdit
Alhijrah Media CorporationEdit
Sarawak Media Group (SMG)Edit
Subscription-based providersEdit
Satellite televisionEdit
Digital terrestrial televisionEdit
- myFreeview
- NJOI (available for several free-to-air digital television channels)
Over-the-top (OTT)Edit
Other television stationsEdit
Former or defunct channels and networksEdit
Former Astro channels (by timeline)Edit
- 1998
- 1999
- Preview Channel (NHK World TV and Bloomberg Television) was split to NHK World TV and Bloomberg Television on 17 January 1999.
- 2002
- 2006
- TechTV ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 March 2006.
- NHK World TV was replaced with NHK World Premium on 1 May 2006.
- TV Pendidikan ceased broadcasting and transmission on 31 December 2006.
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- Astro Stocklink ceased service on New Year's Day (1 January) 2013 at midnight.
- ESPN Asia, ESPNews and ESPN HD rebranded to Fox Sports, Fox Sports News and Fox Sports Plus HD on 28 January 2013.
- Radio Mosaic ceased service on 9 February 2013 due to the same broadcast of radio channels.
- BIO Channel ceased broadcasting and transmission on 14 June 2013 at midnight. Replaced by Lifetime.
- BeTV HD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 26 August 2013 at midnight. It was the first HD channel to be ceased on Astro.
- CNBC ceased broadcasting and transmission on 7 October 2013 because it was unable to fulfill these objects, but was relaunched back in the same month.
- 2014
- 2015
- iView was ceased broadcasting and transmission on 12 January 2015. Replaced by the NJOI version on 20 January 2015.
- Golf Channel in SD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 26 February 2015.
- 2016
- Astro Hitz ceased broadcasting and transmission on 16 May 2016 at midnight due to low viewership and declining popularity.
- Sundance Channel HD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 July 2016 at midnight due to low popularity. The first International Movies channel to be ceased on Astro.
- Zee Variasi ceased broadcasting and transmission on Astro on 1 October 2016 at midnight. Replaced by a new Hindi HD channel called Tara HD on 19 October 2016.
- CCTV News rebranded to CGTN on New Year's Eve (31 December) 2016 at 12:00pm.
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- Astro Maya HD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 14 January 2019 at midnight. The programs were later carried by the both Astro Prima, Astro Oasis, Astro Prima HD and Astro Oasis HD channels which are HD and it’s available to all Astro customers. For NJOI customers, HD version is made optional by purchasing the HD pack, while making SD version available on different channel number.
- The SD version of Disney XD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 March 2019. The HD version of this channel remained until 1 January 2021 due to a review of Disney's business in the region and was replaced by TA-DAA HD on 15 March 2021.
- Channel NewsAsia HD rebranded to CNA HD on 29 March 2019 as Channel NewsAsia HD celebrated its 20th anniversary.
- Astro Xi Yue HD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 July 2019 at midnight because the Overseas event channel would be aired on Channel 338. Replaced by iQIYI HD 17 days later on the same channel number (Channel 300). It is the first Chinese HD channel to be ceased on Astro.
- A-List HD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 2 August 2019 at midnight due to low viewership, but its Astro OD (On Demand) service continued.
- Tara HD was discontinued and terminated on 1 October 2019. Replaced by Colors Hindi HD 6 hours later.
- 2020
- DIVA, E! Entertainment, E! Entertainment HD and DIVA HD officially ceased transmission and broadcasting on New Year's Day (1 January) 2020 at midnight stroke as it ceased broadcasts across Asia while programmes on its VOD service and the Astro GO app continued reserved. Replaced by Comedy Central Asia HD on the same date at 6:00 am until it ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 February 2021 because it officially ceased broadcasts across Asia while its VOD service continued reserved. They are the first historic channels to cease on Astro. DIVA, E! Entertainment, E! Entertainment HD and DIVA HD shows were moved to Hello HD but it was ceased on 1 October 2021 and transferred the shows to PRIMEtime HD.
- Setanta Sports HD was rebranded to RugbyPass TV HD on 29 January 2020.
- The SD version of Astro Wah Lai Toi officially ceased transmission and broadcasting on 1 April 2020, hence merged with TVB Jade HD. On 1 May 2020, Astro Wah Lai Toi HD was transitioned to its VOD service.
- TVB Classic Movies and Asian Action Channel both ceased broadcasting and transmission on Astro on 5 April 2020 at 00:15 and 00:30 hours respectively under Jade pack.
- Kompas TV and NET ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission as Bintang and Pelangi (offered under Indo Pek) on 1 June 2020 at midnight. In substitution, Astro introduced two new HD channels under Indo Pek offerings, SCTV and Indosiar are launched as Astro Rania HD and Astro Aura HD on 23 May 2020 and are also available in On-Demand and the Astro Go app.
- Jaya TV, Raj TV and Kalaignar TV ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 June 2020. Replaced by Zee Tamil HD at 00:05 hours.
- Astro Vaanavil was upgraded from SD to HD on 1 June 2020, and made available for all Astro customers. For NJOI customers, the HD version is made optional by purchasing the HD pack, while retaining the SD version which are assigned to a different channel number.
- The SD version of Astro First ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 July 2020.
- The SD version of Astro Best ceased broadcasting and transmission on 29 July 2020 while still retaining the HD version of the channel.
- The SD versions of Fox Sports channels and Eurosport ceased broadcasting and transmission on 16 November 2020 while still retaining the HD versions of the channels until the HD versions of Fox Sports HD channels ceased its broadcast on 1 October 2021.
- The SD versions of Astro SuperSport channels ceased broadcasting and transmission on 30 November 2020 while still retaining the HD versions of the channels.
- 2021
- Disney Junior HD, Disney Channel HD and Disney Channel officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on New Year's Day (1 January) 2021 at midnight stroke due to the television provider's refreshed Kids Pack on 14 December 2020 and the officially grand launching and launching ceremony of Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia on 1 June 2021 and were replaced by Nick Jr. HD and Boomerang HD which launched on the same date. Disney XD HD ceased broadcasting and transmission on New Year's Day (1 January) 2021 at midnight due to the review of Disney's business in this region and was replaced by TA-DAA! HD on 15 March 2021. These are the second Kids channels and first HD Kids channels to be ceased on Astro.
- Comedy Central Asia HD (717) ceased broadcasting on 1 February 2021, surviving for barely 13 months after launch because it ceased broadcast in Asia, but its VOD service and the Astro GO app continued reserved (except for Unifi TV). It was replaced by BBC Lifestyle HD on same channel number on 15 September of the same year.
- Almost all SD channels in Astro officially ceased broadcasting and transmission due to most channels are fully switched to all HD channels on 28 February 2021 at 11:59:59pm.
- Astro Awani launches their HD version of their channel on 29 March 2021. While the upgrade from SD to HD are made available for all Astro customers, NJOI customers will still continue enjoy the channel in SD version on different channel number and HD version are made optional by purchasing the HD pack.
- ANIPLUS HD on Astro Go ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 April 2021 due to low viewership but its VOD service continued reserved until 11 April 2021.
- When Astro launched their new NJOI HD subscription-based package for NJOI customers on 28 April 2021, the HD version of Astro Prima, Astro Oasis, Astro Vaanavil, Astro Xiao Tai Yang, Astro AEC, CCTV4, Astro Awani, Hello HD, eGG HD and Astro Arena can be only be enabled via HD Pack, while retaining their SD version of these channels which are reassigned at different channel number.
- Astro TVIQ was officially upgraded from SD to HD on 25 May 2021 and made available for all Astro customers.
- Astro Box Office Tayangan Hebat HD ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 June 2021, but its VOD service and the Astro GO app continued reserved.
- TVB News Channel HD was officially discontinued and terminated on 1 July 2021, barely one year after launch due to copyright problems. TVB News HD programs on TVB Jade HD continued to be reserved at 7:00am, 6:30pm and 11:00pm until Astro has launched TVB Anywhere+ application on 13 September 2021.
- All The Walt Disney Company, Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific channels (except Star Chinese Channel HD, National Geographic HD, Nat Geo Wild HD and BabyTV HD) officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on 30 September 2021 at 11:59:59pm and were replaced by Astro SuperSport 5 HD, Astro Arena 2 HD (Channel 802) and SPOTV HD due to the officially grand launching and launching ceremony of Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia on 1 June 2021. The Fox Sports channels HD are the first Sports channels to officially cease broadcasting and transmission on Astro.
- Hello channel HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on 30 September 2021 at 11:59:59pm and was replaced by Lifetime HD and PRIMEtime HD which were officially opened and launched on 15 September 2021 and Discovery Science HD ceased broadcasting and transmission at the same date due to review of the channel performance and replaced by BBC Earth HD. They were first Learning channels to be ceased on Astro. At the same date, ART Variety was officially replaced with ART Movies before officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 June 2022.
- RugbyPass TV HD was officially rebranded to Premier Sports HD on 9 December 2021.
- Animax HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on New Year's Eve (31 December) 2021 at 11:59:59pm because due to low popularity but its VOD service continued reserved.
- 2022
- Astro TVIQ HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on Chinese New Year’s Eve (31 January) 2022 at 11:59:59pm when TA-DAA! HD launched on 15 March 2021 at 8:00am with the shows from the now-defunct channel are carried by Astro Ceria HD and TA-DAA! HD.
- BabyTV HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on Chinese New Year’s Eve (31 January) 2022 at 11:59:59pm, with shows from the channel officially moved to Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia. In turn, the channel slot was officially replaced by Moonbug Kids HD.
- Naura HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on 31 January 2022 at 11:59:59pm because due to Naura content on its Astro GO app and its VOD service continued reserved.
- Star Chinese Channel HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on the Chinese New Year’s Eve (31 January) 2022 at 11:59:59pm. While the shows from that channel will be carried through Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia, it also was officially replaced by Phoenix Chinese Channel HD and Phoenix InfoNews Channel HD in Malaysia.
- Astro Tutor TV PT3 and Astro Tutor TV SPM will be merging into single channel named Astro Tutor TV SMK HD on channel 603 starting 1 April 2022. On the same day, TVBS News HD, Astro AOD 353, Astro AOD 355 and Makkal TV has ceased transmission and Astro Tutor TV SK and OKEY will be upgraded to HD on channels 601 and 146.
- Astro Vellithirai on Astro Go ceased transmission on 14 April 2022 at 1:00am, with the channel upgraded to HD at the same day.
- Oh!K HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on 31 May 2022 when K-Plus HD is available on Astro channel 396, along with ART Movies.
- Kix HD officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 July 2022 at 12:59:15am.
- Chutti TV officially ceased broadcasting and transmission on 13 October 2022 and were replaced by Sun News HD, KTV HD and Sun Life HD.
- 2023
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- Red FM and Capital FM ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 January 2016.
- Discovery Kids ceased broadcasting and transmission on 16 January 2016.
- FashionTV, ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 May 2016.
- Hikmah, replaced by Hypp Salam on 5 June 2016.
- Now Hairun, replaced by Now Chinese Drama on 14 June 2016.
- Astro SuperSport ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Fox Sports 3 on 26 August 2016.
- Astro SuperSport 2 ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Fox Sports News on 26 August 2016.
- Astro Vaanavil ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Zee Tamil on 1 April 2017.
- Makkal TV ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Zee TV on 1 April 2017.
- Astro Oasis and Astro Awani ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 August 2016.
- Dushh FM ceased broadcasting and transmission at 5 November 2016.
- TV Direct Showcase ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 December 2016.
- 2017
- 2018
- Capital TV, replaced by Channel W on 3 January 2018.
- Channel [V] Music, Channel [V] and FOX Crime ceased broadcasting and transmission at midnight, 1 June 2018 due to low rating. First Chinese Channel to cease on Unifi TV, However While FOX Crime Shows On FOX, were replaced by CJ WOW SHOP and Dunia Sinema.
- 1News Channel ceased broadcasting and transmission at midnight, 1 July 2018 due to low popularity.
- HyppSports and HyppSports 2 ceased broadcasting and transmission at midnight, 1 August 2018 as ASN program suppliers ceased operations in Malaysia and Singapore, replaced by Sports Illustrated TV until broadcasts ceased on 1 May 2019.
- TVB8 and Stingray iConcerts was discontinued and terminated at midnight, 1 September 2018. Second Chinese Channel to cease on Unifi TV.
- Hot FM and One FM ceased broadcasting and transmission on 31 December 2018.
- 2019
- Channel W, HyppSports 3 and Outdoor Channel ceased broadcasting and transmission at midnight, 1 January 2019 due to low popularity of Outdoor Channel.
- Now Chinese Drama International trasited to its VOD service On 1 March 2019.
- Sony Channel and MUTV, ceased broadcasting and 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 and BabyFirst were discontinued and terminated at midnight, 1 October 2019.
- Now International was discontinued and terminated at midnight, 15 November 2019.
- 2020
- Baogu Movies transited to its VOD service on 1 March 2020.
- UTV Movies ceased broadcasting and transmission at midnight, 1 July 2020. Replaced by Yupp Thirai HD.
- Animax ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 July 2020 due to low popularity of Animax, but relaunched back on 1 October 2021.
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- Unifi Sports 2, 3 & 4 was cease broadcast and transmission in 1 February 2023 because the broadcaster rights of Malaysia League has ended, replaced by BeIN Sports 2.
- LAKU Mall was cease broadcast and transmission in 1 February 2023.
- TechStorm and Arirang TV was cease broadcast and transmission in 1 February 2023, barely 16 months after the channel launched, replaced by ONE and Moonbug Kids, The First Korean Channel To Ceased on Unifi TV.
- 2021
- CNA and Al Jazeera ceased broadcasting and transmission on 12 October 2021.
Former HBO GO live TV channelsEdit
- 2021
- RED by HBO ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 July 2021 due to lack of advertisements.
Other pay television providersEdit
- 2001
- Mega TV ceased transmission on 1 October 2001.
- 2016
- eTV ceased transmission on 29 February 2016.
- ABNXcess ceased transmission in 2016.
- Fine TV
Former Malaysian Channels From SingaporeEdit
TV channelsEdit
- 1999
- MetroVision ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 November 1999 but relaunched as 8TV on 8 January 2004.
- 2005
- Channel 9 was for a hiatus on 1 February 2005. Replaced by TV9 on 22 April 2006.
- 2008
- 2009
- 2011
- Muzik Aktif was replaced with TVi due to its relaunch on 11 April 2011.
- 2012
- tvN, changed its name with Channel M on 23 November 2012, on 1 June 2016, the channel rebrands into current name.
- WBC, closed down since October 2012 due to financial problems.[10]
- 2017
- Hao Xiang Shopping Channel ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 July 2017, replaced by LAKU Mall on 1 June 2017.[11]
- 2018
- TVi was replaced with TV Okey due to its relaunch on 21 March 2018.[12]
- 2019
- CJ WOWSHOP ceased broadcasting and transmission on 1 January 2019. Later, CJ WOWSHOP officially broadcasting and transmission restore resume again from 15 April 2019 (excluding Unifi TV).
- Channel W was discontinued on 1 April 2019, replaced by TVS at myFreeview on 6 February 2021.
- 2022
- Drama Sangat and Media Prima Audio (formerly Ripple Media) radio channels were discontinued and replaced by SUKE TV at myFreeview on 28 March 2022.
- Astro Go Shop (Malay) officially ceased broadcasting and transmission in myFreeview on 19 June 2022.
- WowShop (Chinese) officially ceased broadcasting and transmission in myFreeview on 2 November 2022.
ReferencesEditFurther readingEdit