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 Multimedia (KKMM) 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.
Fully government-owned television Free-to-air broadcast channels
Astro Aruna ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 February 2010 due to declining viewership and replaced by Bintang and Pelangi on 11 July 2011 until it ceased broadcasting on 1 June 2020.
Channel [V] ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 16 June 2010. Replaced by FOX Asia.
Hallmark Channel replaced by Diva Universal on 19 September 2010. Later, Diva Universal, replaced with Diva on 16 June 2014.
2012
STAR Movies, rebranded to Fox Movies Premium on 1 January 2012. Later, Fox Movies Premium, Replaced By Fox Movies On 10 June 2017.
WaTV, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 March 2012. Replaced by Celestial Movies HD and KIX HD while Programs broadcast by the channel is now carried by Astro AEC.
Astro @15, ceased broadcasting at midnight, 1 May 2012. Replaced by Astro Mustika HD on 21 May 2012, while programs broadcast by the channel carried by other Astro's Malay channels.
2013
Astro Stocklink ceased service on 1 January 2013.
ESPN Asia, replaced with FOX Sports Asia on 28 January 2013. ESPNews and ESPN HD were renamed FOX Sports News and FOX Sports Plus HD, respectively.
Radio Mosaic ceased service on 9 February 2013 due to same broadcast of radio channels.
Bio. Channel, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 14 June 2013. Replaced by Lifetime. Later, Lifetime Will disable from 14 December 2018 at 12.10 am. Lifetime's shows will move to Hello from 2020.
BeTV HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 26 August 2013. Replaced by HITS TV On 16 November 2014 at the same channel number (Channel 720) then moved to Channel 706 on 1 April 2020.
2014
Jia Yu, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight on 1 April 2014. Replaced by Kah Lai Toi until ceased its broadcast on 1 October 2017.
When iView began broadcasting on NJOI version on 20 January 2015, Astro chose to discontinue their Astro version on 12 January 2015.
Golf Channel ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission their SD version on 26 February 2015, 10 days after the HD version of the channel began its broadcast then Golf Channel HD in Sports Pack becoming an ala carte channel.
2016
Astro Hitz ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 16 May 2016 due to low viewership and declining its popularity. but KIX HD Moved to Channel 705 from 1 April 2020 at the same channel number (Channel 705).
Sundance Channel HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 July 2016 due to low popularity.
Zee Variasi shut down its broadcast at midnight, 1 October 2016. replaced by Tara HD on 19 October 2016 until it ceased broadcasting on 1 October 2019.
2017
ITV Choice ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 16 January 2017 at 12:15 a.m., because due to low viewership, but SVOD service continued reserved until discontinued on 20 August 2019.
Go Asean was broadcast on 2 June 2015 - 12 June 2017. The channel ends at 2:00am.
ZooMoo ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 April 2018 due to low popularity and rating. The first Kids channels to be ceased on Astro. Replaced by Boomerang Asia HD from 15 December 2020 at the same channel number (Channel 619).
Astro Bella was discontinued at midnight, 1 October 2018, replaced by Naura
Astro Mustika HD changed its name to Astro Citra HD and channel number will be renumberring from channel 134 to channel 126.
Eve was discontinued and terminated at midnight, 1 November 2018.
FYI were disabled on Astro at 12:40 a.m., respectively on 14 December 2018.
Zee Tamil HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 March 2019 on Channel 232 in Samrat pack, barely 6 month after launch because this channel is launching on Astro without Unifi TV permission on 19 September 2018. The Chakravarthy pack offerings will launch on 1 June 2020 on Channel 235.
Astro Xi Yue HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 July 2019. The first Chinese HD channels to be ceased on Astro and replaced by iQIYI HD, on the same channel number (Channel 300).
A-List HD ceased at midnight, 2 August 2019 because due to low viewership, but Astro OD (On Demand) service continued reserved.
2020
DIVA and E! Entertainment ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 January 2020, but Astro OD (On Demand) service continued reserved. The first historic channels to be ceased on Astro and replaced by Comedy Central at 6:05am. Later, Diva and E! shows moved to Hello Channel 702 (previously Channel 110) from August 2020 until now.
Setanta Sports, replaced by Rugby Pass TV On 29 January 2020.
The SD version of Astro Wah Lai Toi ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 April 2020. Later, Astro Wah Lai Toi HD was transitioned to VOD service on 1 May 2020.
The broadcasts of TVB Classic Movies and Asian Action Channel were discontinued on Astro at 12:15 a.m. and 12:30 a.m., respectively on 5 April 2020 was Under Jade Pack.
Bintang and Pelangi ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 June 2020 due to IndoPek's packs renew and Replaced with Astro Rania HD (112) and Astro Aura HD (113), released on 23 May 2020.
Jaya TV, Raj TV and Kalaignar TV ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 June 2020 due to low popularity and replaced by Zee Tamil HD on 1 June 2020 at 12:05am which is rebroadcast back at same date.
The SD version of Astro First ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2020.
The SD version of Astro Best ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 29 July 2020.
The SD version of Fox Sports channels and Eurosport ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 16 November 2020 and the SD version of Astro SuperSport channels ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 30 November 2020.
2021
Three Disney channels: **Disney Channel, **Disney Junior HD and *Disney XD HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 January 2021 due to arrival of Disney+ in Malaysia. The first HD Kids channels to be ceased on Astro. Replaced by Nick Jr. HD and Boomerang HD which launched on 15 December 2020 on the same package (Kids Pack). *Note that Disney XD is ceased broadcasting across Southest Asia. Disney Junior ceased broadcasting alongside with its sister channels (Disney Channel) due to the arrival of Disney+ in Malaysia, previously in Singapore.
Comedy Central Asia ceased broadcast across Asia and transitioned to VOD service on 1 February 2021. Continue to enjoy popular Comedy Central Asia shows on Astro Go.
Astro Vaanavil ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Zee Tamil on 1 April 2017. Later, Zee Tamil, replaced by Colors Tamil on 1 April 2019 respectively in HD only.
Makkal TV ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016. Replaced by Zee TV on 1 April 2017. Later, Zee TV, replaced by Colors on 1 April 2019.
Astro Oasis and Astro Awani ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 August 2016.
Dushh FM ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at 5 November 2016.
TV Direct Showcase ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 December 2016.
2017
MNC Channel, replaced by Pesona HD on 1 April 2017.
V HD International, Channel [V] Taiwan and FOX Crime HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 June 2018 due to low rating. The first Chinese Channel to be ceased on Unifi TV and replaced by CJ WOW SHOP and Dunia Sinema.
1News Channel ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 July 2018 due to the low popularity.
HyppSports HD and HyppSports 2 HD ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission at midnight, 1 August 2018 that ASN program suppliers were ceases operations in Malaysia and Singapore and replaced by Sports Illustrated TV until ceased its broadcast on 1 May 2019.
TVB8 and Stingray iConcerts HD was discontinued and terminated at midnight, 1 September 2018. The second Chinese Channel to be ceased on Unifi TV.
tvN, changing 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. [5]
2017
TV5, originally launched in April 2017 to replace TVi. However, the channel suddenly ceased its operation in less than a month. TVi returned to its broadcast in the same month.
Hao Xiang Shopping Channel ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 July 2017 with a rebranding of this channel.[6]
2018
TVi ceased its broadcast and replaced by a new channel called TV Okey on 21 March 2018.[7]
2019
CJ WOWSHOP, ceased broadcasting and ceased transmission on 1 January 2019, later, CJ WOWSHOP rebroadcast again at 15 April 2019 (excluding Unifi TV).
