Aug 5 2009, 04:04 PM
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4 March 2009 | Media Prima Welcomes Digital TV Initiative
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 March 2009 – Media Prima Berhad (MPB) today announced that it welcomes the digital tv initiative that is currently being studied by the government but express caution to ensure that any roll-out is undertaken in a transparent, independent and cost effective manner.
“Despite the current challenging economic climate we are excited to be involved in the initiative to develop the landscape of digital services as this will help enhance the quality of services provided by the current broadcast industry,” said Media Prima Berhad’s Group Managing Director /CEO , Abdul Rahman Ahmad.
“With digital services, all broadcasters will be able to offer value-added benefits such as additional channels, improved clarity and uninterruptible signals to consumers, as well as possible pay and interactive television services,” added Abdul Rahman.
MPB has been investing continuously in digitizing its broadcasting infrastructure and adopting state-of-the-art digital technologies over the years to improve processes and enhance productivity, and the broadcasting infrastructure at its Sri Pentas facility in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya is already fully digital and ready for the shift from analogue to digital transmission.
At the same time, MPB which owns the FTA TV networks of TV3, 8tv, ntv7 and TV9 will also begin a pilot trial of digital broadcasting by the end of March 2009 as part of its digital strategy amidst dynamic changes in the country’s broadcasting industry with broadcasters operating in an increasingly technologically sophisticated environment.
Rahman, however, noted that the introduction of digital TV is a capital intensive and costly affair, involving the roll-out of new digital transmitters throughout Malaysia and the purchase of digital set-top boxes or digital ready television sets by the Malaysian public.
“Early estimates indicate that the total industry costs may well exceed RM1 billion and there is a real need to carefully weigh the costs to be incurred versus the benefits that will accrue from it. The provisioning of digital transmission infrastructure for all broadcasters, both public and private, and the provision of set top box to consumers should be through a neutral and independent party,” he said.
“The business model for digital TV remains unclear even internationally and at the domestic level we are further constrained by the fact that the advertising market is small and such services will face significant competition from existing DTH digital satellite pay services,” he further added.
Accordingly, MPB believe that the selection of the neutral and independent party to roll-out the digital transmission infrastructure for all television broadcasters and the provision of set top box should be undertaken in a transparent manner and subject to proper bidding process with the associated costs charged to broadcasters and price to consumers subject to fair scrutiny by the regulators.
This way the cost of roll-out to broadcasters and consumers and any associated subsidy required from the government can also be minimized as well as enabling private sector investment in transmission infrastructure.
Rahman said, “We are pleased to note that our current thoughts on this is in line with the current strategy adopted by the Kementerian Tenaga, Air and Komunikasi and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and our Group is supportive of both parties to be given the full power to undertake the initiative. “
Given the current economic situation, there is a critical need to ensure that the cost of rolling-out is minimised to both broadcasters as well consumers whilst ensuring the services and content offered are compelling and attractive to ensure successful adoption,” he added on that matter.
Rahman also said Government support and incentives should be given to broadcasters so that the digital TV roll-out will not be an additional burden to broadcasters who are currently facing significant challenges due to the advertising slowdown caused by the uncertain economic outlook.
Meanwhile, proper education and communications should also be undertaken to educate the public on this initiative and sufficient incentives be given to consumers so that the cost of adopting digital TV will not unnecessarily burden them either.
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 March 2009 – Media Prima Berhad (MPB) today announced that it welcomes the digital tv initiative that is currently being studied by the government but express caution to ensure that any roll-out is undertaken in a transparent, independent and cost effective manner.
“Despite the current challenging economic climate we are excited to be involved in the initiative to develop the landscape of digital services as this will help enhance the quality of services provided by the current broadcast industry,” said Media Prima Berhad’s Group Managing Director /CEO , Abdul Rahman Ahmad.
“With digital services, all broadcasters will be able to offer value-added benefits such as additional channels, improved clarity and uninterruptible signals to consumers, as well as possible pay and interactive television services,” added Abdul Rahman.
MPB has been investing continuously in digitizing its broadcasting infrastructure and adopting state-of-the-art digital technologies over the years to improve processes and enhance productivity, and the broadcasting infrastructure at its Sri Pentas facility in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya is already fully digital and ready for the shift from analogue to digital transmission.
At the same time, MPB which owns the FTA TV networks of TV3, 8tv, ntv7 and TV9 will also begin a pilot trial of digital broadcasting by the end of March 2009 as part of its digital strategy amidst dynamic changes in the country’s broadcasting industry with broadcasters operating in an increasingly technologically sophisticated environment.
Rahman, however, noted that the introduction of digital TV is a capital intensive and costly affair, involving the roll-out of new digital transmitters throughout Malaysia and the purchase of digital set-top boxes or digital ready television sets by the Malaysian public.
“Early estimates indicate that the total industry costs may well exceed RM1 billion and there is a real need to carefully weigh the costs to be incurred versus the benefits that will accrue from it. The provisioning of digital transmission infrastructure for all broadcasters, both public and private, and the provision of set top box to consumers should be through a neutral and independent party,” he said.
“The business model for digital TV remains unclear even internationally and at the domestic level we are further constrained by the fact that the advertising market is small and such services will face significant competition from existing DTH digital satellite pay services,” he further added.
Accordingly, MPB believe that the selection of the neutral and independent party to roll-out the digital transmission infrastructure for all television broadcasters and the provision of set top box should be undertaken in a transparent manner and subject to proper bidding process with the associated costs charged to broadcasters and price to consumers subject to fair scrutiny by the regulators.
This way the cost of roll-out to broadcasters and consumers and any associated subsidy required from the government can also be minimized as well as enabling private sector investment in transmission infrastructure.
Rahman said, “We are pleased to note that our current thoughts on this is in line with the current strategy adopted by the Kementerian Tenaga, Air and Komunikasi and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and our Group is supportive of both parties to be given the full power to undertake the initiative. “
Given the current economic situation, there is a critical need to ensure that the cost of rolling-out is minimised to both broadcasters as well consumers whilst ensuring the services and content offered are compelling and attractive to ensure successful adoption,” he added on that matter.
Rahman also said Government support and incentives should be given to broadcasters so that the digital TV roll-out will not be an additional burden to broadcasters who are currently facing significant challenges due to the advertising slowdown caused by the uncertain economic outlook.
Meanwhile, proper education and communications should also be undertaken to educate the public on this initiative and sufficient incentives be given to consumers so that the cost of adopting digital TV will not unnecessarily burden them either.
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