Well, forgotten about this. As that channel only consists of repeats of drama from TV3/TV9/8TV and without a proper schedule and wide reach like TV9, it can be hard for the survival of the channel.

A proper VOD OTT service, rather than a linear channel like Drama Sangat, is particularly vital for Media Prima to strengthen their presence online plus providing catch-up of their titles, both local or foreign for further future proofing the company since a lot of viewing is done via OTT platforms nowadays. I can't see the partnership between other OTT platforms such as iQiyi and iflix Wetv being viable in the long term as they will have some control on their content.

With a proper OTT service it is easier for them to allow viewing of their content overseas and allow easy catch up of foreign TV content (with 2 versions - Malaysia and rest of the world).

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jun 7 2022, 02:30 AM

MYTV has a half baked development where they didn't duplicate digital TV transmissions on all existing analogue RTM TV sites (over 80+ sites across Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak) over cost issues, therefore the "seremban no digital TV" situation.

In UK, they converted all masts used on analogue TV era when they switched into Digital broadcast.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jul 29 2022, 12:44 AM

The transmissions for Seremban region is still mostly available via Bukit Tampin (some antenna adjustment required), but it won't provide good coverage across Seremban.

Alternatively MYTV via Satellite (Asiasat 9) is also available in blackspot areas (duplicates the same thing as on terrestrial broadcast)

Asiasat 9 has wider than intended coverage (which covers almost all of Indonesia), so the transmissions has to be encrypted due to copyright issues and only receivable via MYTV satellite box.

Additional unnecessary watermarks (luckily, not embedded in video).

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jul 29 2022, 09:02 PM

An interesting development from MYTV. It is actually surprising to see MYTV doing extension to their transmission after seeing them being "satisfied" with the current reception for so long.

Some of the most wanted areas, namely Seremban and Kangar will be getting an improved digital TV transmission from MYTV, which includes some of the most watched TV channels in Malaysia and all RTM (public) channels in HD.

Guessing the frequency will be similar to Gunung Jerai/Gunung Raya in TM Kangar and in Gunung Telepak Buruk's case, possibly Bukit Tampin's.

After the installation of the transmissions on Telepak Buruk and TM Kangar, This left just one major area (Labuan) to be denied access of free to air digital terrestrial channels, possibly additional extension to further improve indoor reception in Klang Valley too.

The "viralness" of the incident on media definitely works better than complaint directly on MCMC (regulator), given the past experiences (such as Veveonah).

For Bruneian viewers, MYTV is one of the better options for viewers to access TV, since the closure of the only Pay TV service in the country. Despite not having the legal broadcast rights, it is often the only way to access to some content (such as sports coverage, latest dramas from TV3, dedicated religious channel, and more) to the rather boring and limited offering on RTB.

Most global operators are not interested on the very small market (except for larger global players such as Netflix).

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Aug 5 2022, 04:11 AM

Or it may be the standard terrestrial broadcast service (DVB-T2 with HbbTV) or just streaming TV on a mobile app via 4G/5G/WiFi (requires data, this approach has been done in some countries to complement the broadcast TV signal).

Consider that MYTV itself is stingy on roll out terrestrial broadcast service (they only roll out 2 additional transmitters in Telapak Burok and Kangar, and don't even complete the initial 60 transmitter rollout), it is unlikely that MYTV will risk rolling out DVB-T2 Lite, even when the transmitter equipment is available.

Coverage itself is an issue too, with so limited transmitters (max 4 in Klang Valley, after the rollout of Telapak Burok), there is a risk of poor reception quality on the go.

There is also handover issues (such as driving from JB to Klang Valley, or on the East Coast region where the frequency is not SFN)

DAB with a huge transmitter network still at times doesn't give solid coverage (a huge complaint for some commuters in Norway where the main national radio stations are DAB+ only, some want to receive travel information in tunnels but they can heard nothing.) Streaming itself (especially live) is not efficient with so many copies has to be send out simultaneously.

Official starting dates for HD terrestrial broadcast:

RTM - 1 April 2019 (test transmission shortly before World Cup 2018) (Unifi still in SD)
TV3 - October 2017 (for a short while SD and HD is in simulcast until the HD variant replaced SD variant)
8TV - 12 February 2021 (1st day of CNY)
Media Prima switched into HD playout gradually on Aug 2017, and even test broadcast their news bulletins in HD (starting from TV9, NTV7/Didik TV KPM, 8TV and finally TV3), Astro still SD
Bernama - Sometime in 2021 (other platforms still SD)

Awesome TV and TVS - HD from Day 1
TV Alhijrah - HD from Day 1 (image looks like SD 576i)

Also, there is a problem where not all channels of RTM (and generally, some FTA channels including Awesome TV and TVS) is universally available on all 3 major platforms (MYTV/Astro and Njoi/Unifi TV).

This situation is more visible when RTM has to simulcast on both TV Okey (for the benefit of Astro/Njoi viewers) and Sukan RTM, which both of the channels are unavailable on Unifi TV. (I know viewers can still access via live streaming in case for RTM but due to the Streaming nature, it is prone on a drop of picture quality especially when major sport events are on, unlike FTA/Satellite/direct IPTV from Unifi) Viewership discrimination to those on Unifi TV?

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Sep 15 2022, 11:13 AM

However, nowadays we can see that TM is bumping up the game by adding more content on their TV service. This is the question for RTM as why they choose to carry channels selectively on Pay TV (Astro is also lacking some RTM channels too).

Tonight's simulcast of Malaysia Day Celebration event between RTM TV1, TV Alhijrah, Bernama TV and Suke TV

TV1 is the master station/feed.

The feeds the TV stations are taking :

Suke TV - RTM TV1 HD feed
Bernama - RTM TV1 SD feed (despite capable for HD)
TV Alhijrah - RTM TV1 (but the feed they are taking isn't known, probably HD, since their "HD" looks like sxxx anyway
Media Prima news YouTube channel online streaming - RTM TV1 HD feed (online only, not on TV)

The picture quality is noticeably worse on all other stations since they take off air feed from RTM.


TVS is doing their own Malaysia Day event in Sarawak and dosen't simulcasts RTM feed (not surprising, given that TVS is a Sarawak based station)

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Sep 16 2022, 10:31 PM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-62491721

How if a broadcast television mast get collapsed by fire/technical issues?

In a case that happens in UK last year, almost 500'000 households was left without any terrestrial TV + some radio reception after a main TV mast catches fire. Actual households that are being affected are lesser (due to subscription TV, Freesat or live streaming TV) but it still affects a large part of population, which left them with no TV at all for weeks. Obviously, the mast has been demolished and replaced by an interim one when they built a new replacement one. Some viewers find their reception woes solved by simply turning to other still broadcasting neighbouring masts but not everyone has such option. But still, the reception has become disabled in some areas as they can't receive the main mast (due to obvious shorter height). Some viewers was given a TV streaming device or a satellite based option as a means to restore TV reception, until the reception can be completely restored.

This issue actually reminds me of the TV3 transmitter in Ulu Kali being catched on fire (this was on early 2010s), completely disabling the TV reception across a large area. Some viewers was able to restore reception from Bukit Sungai Besi, but not all has the option. Until a replacement transmitter was complete, TV3 has to transmit on reserve transmitter from RTM, which means some viewers will lost reception. Media Prima advised viewers in affected regions can watch the channel live on the Tonton platform but not all viewers can watch that live (limited broadband, data and so).
Another similar event is the MYTV dispute which disabled many transmitters across Malaysia due to payment issuesm Luckily, analogue TV was still available back then.

Imagine if a similar event that happens in a major area in Malaysia. This will disable almost all broadcast reception in a certain area until a replacement mast can be used. In this days, streaming live TV with petty 50/100GB FUP on unlimited data can use up the data pretty quickly before being resorted into 512kbps (not everyone, even in urban areas, have fixed line internet, more so for poorer communities or elderly which mainly rely terrestrial TV for entertainment). Yes, some may have reception from other platforms (Njoi, Astro, Internet, Unifi TV) but I can imagine the chaos.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Sep 28 2022, 08:14 PM

Quite interesting to see even Bernama has been invaded by home shopping.

This is on a time when even Media Prima has reduced reliance on home shopping programmes on TV9 in favour of more TV programmes as they see the ad revenue is improving, after placing attention and improvements to more shows.

However you hate it (many people do hate that), teleshopping is still an important revenue for a free channel's survival these days, so can't really blame them.

Well, At least Berita RTM channel should be made available widely, since the simulcast has somehow been obstructed by sports coverage or important event sometimes.


Attached thumbnail(s)

There should be a restacking between 26 to 29 October but then the website has no information about it on its website at all!

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Oct 22 2022, 12:20 PM

Possibly because of broadcast interference between Indonesian/Malaysian border between Sumantera and Gunung Ledang/Bukit Tampin. Some transmitters there are using the same frequency as MYTV multiplexes, causing massive interference there with some multiplexes until both multiplexes can't be used. Not much of an issue for Bukit Tinggi and Rompin, but they also changed it for maybe easier reception/convenience.

With the lower frequency being used, this will meant that the reception will be further improved in some areas, plus Indonesians will be able to receive the local signals without interference.

This will further allow North Johoreans receiving Singapore TV without interference, shall there is any further development (such as UHD) and also the addition of Telepak Buruk transmitter (on planning)

https://www.kominfo.go.id/content/detail/43...0/berita_satker


For the Johor Bahru area, interference is a no issue (especially if the analogue services on Indonesia is switched off), since the frequencies there has been well agreed between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Any changes of frequencies would require approval from the other two parties.

What happened to him?

My condolences to his family and friends who are having a hard time right now.

It is the time for World Cup and again blank screen for Unifi TV (no broadcast rights).
All three are tuned into TV2.
No Astro at home but obviously Astro viewers will have access (as Astro is the copyright holder for the World Cup.) Anyway, Unifi TV viewers can access World Cup via RTM myKlik or the most stable option, old school terrestrial TV.

myFreeview DTT


RTM myKlik


Unifi playTV

When I do side by side comparison to both terrestrial feeds for the opening of World Cup (RTM/MediaCorp), I can notice slightly more artifacts on RTM HD feed then of MediaCorp HD feed. Although with live sports, both of them suffered severely as there is not enough bandwidth for good quality viewing (3.6M/7.XM), will require significantly higher bandwidth for that.

Last time they play alternative content on unifi feed but they blank out completely this time.
But then, choices are available for Unifi viewers (including terrestrial and RTM Klik, which I afraid the server can't handle it well due to high demand.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Nov 21 2022, 12:20 AM

As the services on MYTV satellite are encrypted (for copyright reasons), you need a MYTV Satellite set top box pointed to Asiasat 9 satellite to receive Digital TV channels on MYTV. The lineup should be the same as the terrestrial TV services though. Since you have a satellite ready TV, you can definitely spilt the satellite source into 2, one for MYTV satellite, that is connected to your MYTV decoder and another one for FTA Indonesian channels, also transmitted from the same satellite and same position, that is connected to TV.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Nov 23 2022, 11:55 PM