Peninsular Malaysia to switch over to full digital TV transmission on 14 Oct

By Digital News Asia October 10, 2019

Northern and Eastern region will completely switch-off analogue TV transmission at midnight
Historical ASO will take place in Sabah & Sarawak on 31 Oct marking end of analogue TV transmission

The MCMC announcement of the switch over of analogue TV transmission to digital on the night of 14 Oct 2019.

In yet another milestone in Malaysia’s journey towards a more integrated digital nation, 14 Oct 2019 will witness the switch-off of terrestrial analogue TV broadcast in the northern and eastern regions of Peninsular Malaysia, which also marks the moment when the entire Peninsular Malaysia will have switched over fully to the myFreeview digital TV transmission.

The affected states include Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Penang for northern region; Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang for eastern region. They join the other states in Peninsular Malaysia, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor (in which the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, sits) which switched off 2 weeks earlier on 30 Sept.

The myFreeview digital TV transmission provides sharper images, high quality sound and interactive TV services that will spur future economic, social and educational needs of the country and its people.

The final cessation of the analogue TV transmission will take place in Sabah and Sarawak on 31 October 2019, marking a historical moment for the country in marching towards digitalisation of the broadcasting landscape, signifying the end of analogue TV transmission in Malaysia that was offered free-of-charge since 1963.

A great deal of thought and hard work had gone into bringing this initiative into fruition, particularly the unwavering support from the broadcasters, network service providers, state governments, media and other key stakeholders. With myFreeview digital TV transmission, viewers can enjoy a myriad of TV channels, radio and new applications like online shopping, interactive learning and more via 15 TV channels and six (6) radio channels including TV1, TV2, TV3, TV Al Hijrah, and Bernama News Channel (BNC).

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) urges those who have yet to transition to the myFreeview digital TV platform, to do so by:

Getting a decoder and fixing an ultra-high frequency (UHF) aerial to an existing TV set
Getting an integrated digital TV (IDTV) that comes with an integrated digital TV tuner and then affix the aerial UHF

Free decoders are also being distributed to eligible B40 households.

TV viewers have the following options available to check their eligibility for the free decoders: