The new digital channel will initially cover the major towns of Petaling Jaya, Klang, Shah Alam, Seremban and the city of Kuala Lumpur before expanding its coverage gradually to other parts of the country. The channel will line up alongside RTM's other channels TV1 and TV2, as well as Media Prima's TV3, ntv7, 8TV and Channel 9.
According to Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, the channel will be operational by September, but no details on language or programming were disclosed.
Agencies in Kuala Lumpur were unable to comment on the proposed new channel as they have yet to receive information from RTM on the channel's target audience, airtime rates and launch date.
Regarding viewer complaints that the Ministry was coming up with projects not in line with its objectives and had lost touch with mainstream media trends, Abdul Kadir said that RTM was in the process of looking at ways to improve the two channels and its 32 radio stations. "Viewers should not compare RTM with private TV channels and radio stations where profits are the priority. RTM's priority is to inform the people of the Government's policies," he said, adding that making a profit was a secondary issue for RTM.
RTM to add extra TV channel
Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) has confirmed plans to launch a third TV channel later this year, taking the total number of free-to-air broadcast channels in the country to seven.
