Media news (episode 24)

Welcome to this week's media news.

RTM
On July 29, I saw Syahadah on TV1 at 6:30 pm for just a check; the programme does air people speaking in their own language (mostly English because the programme's this season goes to Europe) which has Malay subtitle (provided by the production team) for airing on TV1 (TV1 airs the Malay version while the English version airs on TV2 where the name captions and subtitles [if speaking other than English] are changed to English too but no Malay subtitles airing, so no programme name differenation for both versions on different channels), but during an episode that I saw that day, I saw TV1 using its own subtitle generator to air the people speaking in their own language.
UPDATE  5/8/2013: It still goes on when I last checked Syahadah on TV1 after the second commercial break.

On August 2, RTM announced plans to air the Asian Youth Paralympic Games, where RTM would be the host broadcaster of the games which will be held from 26-30 October in Kuala Lumpur, as reported by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. RTM will air the live coverage of the games' opening ceremony, two-hours-a-day of live and recorded coverage of the day's games' events and a daily international highlights package available via satellite to Asian countries.

Media Prima
On August 1, I checked TV3's Bersamamu Penuhi Impian where I saw Roslan Amat, a regular viewer of Bersamamu since 2005. He lives in Kelantan and could only receive TV3. One of his wishes was wanting to meet TV3's personalities especially the old ones. He went there with the Bersamamu team and had appeared in Malaysia Hari Ini. I was previewed on the afternoon of July 31 by a promo in teaser style in just 10 seconds. The link below is the picture of Roslan who is seen wheelchaired, courtesy of Bersamamu's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=668756359818801&set=a.668756283152142.1073741830.123606121000497&type=1&relevant_count=3

On August 2, while checking channels on Hypp TV, I saw TV3's Buletin Utama airing a news report where the TV3's news department visits the two families whose each of the one who have died while working with TV3 news some months ago.

The Edge reports on July 22 that Media Prima will launch its HD simulcasts for one of its TV channels, subject to final confirmation, as early as the first half of 2014. Mohammad Ariff Ibrahim, the CFO of Media Prima says it will be available once the digital terrestrial TV broadcasting infrastructure is ready to enable free-to-air TV operators to broadcast in digital format. Media Prima started convertion works of its broadcasting service from analogue to digital in the second half of 2010 (April-June 2010) which was reportedly cost RM 75 million. Media Prima only made upgrade works for its studio facilities and broadcasting equipments. Media Prima is not responsible for the development of the digital terrestrial TV infrastructure and lobbied to the government to remain as a broadcaster. The Edge also reports that analysts have expected the digital terrestrial TV bid will be awarded by the end of the third quarter of 2013 (possibly September 2013).

NTV7's The Breakfast Show will have a new look on August 5. This has been evidenced from NTV7's Instagram page. Earlier NTV7's Instagram revealed that a special Aidilfitri edition of The Breakfast Show called Raya Eve will be aired on August 7. The edition has been recorded earlier on July 20 (evidenced from the date when the picture was uploaded) before the actual broadcast date.

A special video from Media Prima for this year's Aidilfitri has been made and is posted on Hot FM's Youtube channel and a shorter version of this is seen on Media Prima TV channels. It is called Anugerah Syawal by Bunkface and features the staff of Media Prima, including the TV3 news department with the TV3 news anchors and the monitors of the near-the-newsroom studio which shows out TV3 at around 6:00 pm, Big Tree (one of Media Prima's advertising agency), The 8TV Quickie studio, the refurbished Sri Pentas reception area, NTV7, 8TV and in the Berita Harian and Harian Metro reception area (not at Sri Pentas). Click here for more information on Anugerah Syawal.

 

Astro and Hypp TV
TM signs a deal with Astro to carry Astro Supersport HD and Astro Supersport 2 HD channels which will include the airing of the Barclays Premier League matches on August 1, reports Astro Awani. TM Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa says the collaboration would see Hypp TV carry more sports content and keeping its promise to deliver the best, even can still watch TV when rain happpens outside. TM's Hypp TV acquire only selected matches from Astro and Hypp TV will air six out of 10 Premier League matches. Hypp TV is now also available to Streamyx's 4 and 8 Mbps users where new customers can subscribe to the sports package for RM 30/month until end-September. It will increase to RM 50/month after the period. Through my self-observation, Astro Supersport HD is on Hypp TV ch 708 and Astro Supersport 2 HD is on Hypp TV ch 709.

Astro
On August 3, I spotted Star World having a new look replacing the one that was used since 2010. The new look's theme is called "Just the way I like it".

(Updated August 3, 4 and 5)