Radio Televisyen Malaysia

Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)

Type	Radio, Television
Country	Malaysia
Availability	National, International in neighbouring countries and www.rtm.gov.my
Motto	First Malaysian Television
Slogan	"Teman Setia Anda" (Your Loayl Friend)
Owner	Government of Malaysia
Key people	Norhyati Ismail, Director General
Launch date	1946
Official website	The website (rtm.gov.my)

Radio Televisyen Malaysia (or Malaysian Radio Television) is the Malaysian national public service radio and television company, with 36 radio stations and three TV channels, called TV1, TV2 and TVi.

History

The Early Years (1946-1969)

On 1 April 1946, RTM was established as Radio Malaya operating out of Singapore, with a Malayan section created in Kuala Lumpur in 1950. The first English language radio station (now Traxx FM) began operations the same year as The Blue Network under Radio Malaya.

With the independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957 Radio Malaya was split into two; the original studios in Singapore was taken over by a new station called Radio Singapura and Radio Malaya moved to Kuala Lumpur going on air from the new location on 1 January 1959. It would be later renamed Radio Malaysia on 16 September 1963 with the transmissions beginning with its trademark words Inilah Radio Malaysia (This is Radio Malaysia) on the day the Malaysia of today was born. Television services under the name Malaysia Televisyen (Malaysia TV) or Malaysia Television (Malaysia TV) started on 28 December 1963 in time for the national New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur and regional telecasts in the Klang Valley in Selangor state. The then 10-month old Television Singapura (launched on 16 February 1963) became part of Malaysia Televisyen as its state station for Singapore viewers, a role served until 1965, when Singapore became independent.

The 1970s

1978 brought the first regular transmission in colour, and the test transmissions of a second channel were begun in 1979. This decade was probably the most proliferous in the history of the whole company, with thousands of hours of programming made.

The 1980s

Annual programming time reached 4.300 hours, equalling to 83 hours a week. Teletext services commenced in 1981, called Beriteks (Text news), and television manufacturers started including teletext decoders in their sets.

The RTM monopoly on television ended in 1984 when TV3, the first private television network, was launched.

Between 1982 and 1985, radio and television networks are separated, radio was known as Radio Malaysia (RM) and television was known as Malaysia Televisyen (MTV).

Until 1988 TV1 opened at 16:00 and closed between 22:45 and 00:00 each night, with TV Pendidikan (Education TV) in the daytime. RTM may close after midnight on some national ceremonies which lasts until after midnight, such as New Year's Eve. TV2 opened at 17:00 and closed at around the same time. In 1988, RTM started closing after midnight. RTM did not have daytime broadcastings until late 1990s. On 13 May 1989 TV1 had the new project called Special Saturday, which continues the broadcasts overnight with movies and music programs. TV1 had Special Saturday every 2-3 months.

The 1990s

In November 1998, RTM followed the Energy Saving Plan, by reducing both channels broadcasting hours. Before the change of schedule, TV1 broadcasted from 6:00 to 1:00, and TV2 broadcasted from 6:00 to midnight. In November 1998, TV1 broadcasted from 7:00 to midnight, and TV2 broadcasted from 15:00 to midnight. The broadcasting hours had been increased in 2000.

The 2000s

In 2006, DVB-T started in Malaysia. The plan was to switch off all analog signals before 2015, but was finally cancelled.

In 2007, TV1 was a 24 hours TV station with TV2. But in 2008 they follow the suggestion from the government so they let TV1 close again. But TV2 still being 24 hours. TV1 became 24 hours again on 21 August 2012.

Location

The Malaysian Radio Television's central building, Angkasapuri was located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

External links

• Official Site