The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched myFreeview digital television broadcast services, which offer Malaysia's most popular TV and radio channels free of charge, with no subscription fees. myFreeview is the brand name given for Malaysia's Free Digital Television DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) services.
The DTT Project is spearheaded by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (KKMM) and supervised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It is a government initiative to provide the public with the best TV and radio broadcasting services.
The Malaysian government is in the process of migrating the country's broadcasting system from analogue to full digital broadcast. Local media reported that to start with, the government and MYTV would provide free myFreeview decoders to 4.2 million low-income households listed under BR1M aid scheme (Malaysia had 6.35 million households as of 2010).
DTT delivers free TV channels with high quality audio and visuals, access to Electronic Program Guide (EPG), various subtitles and a HD quality viewing experience for the TV. Currently myFreeview provides nine local free-to-air television channels. There are plans to add more channels going forward.In the future, viewers also can access multiple interactive services such as shopping, video-on-demand, subscription and internet services.
Users can connect their current TV and the UHF aerial to a MYTV decoder, also known as a DVB-T2 receiver, through an AV/HDMI input. Alternatively, they can buy a new Integrated Digital Television (IDTV) that comes with a built-in digital tuner. The IDTV, with the DTTV label approved by SIRIM, comes with a built-in digital tuner which doesn't require a MYTV decoder to receive myFreeview services.
Digital terrestrial transmission services are now broadcasted nationwide through over 13 transmission towers covering around 80% of the Malaysian population. The myFreeview website states that there will be up to 60 main transmission towers installed by 2017, covering up to 98% of Malaysia's population.
Featured image from myFreeview website