Monday 30 December 2013

Majalah 3 talks about batik in Okinawa

Tonight Majalah 3 talks about Japan again, this time more specifically to Okinawa and related to my country. I can recall the last time Majalah 3 went to Okinawa was in early 2012 to talk about some martial arts that are unique to there. Majalah 3 also later in  2012 talked about Japan twice, one about the earthquake and tsunami victims in east Japan and the development of Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. Earlier in 2013 Majalah 3 also talked about koi fish and its relation to Japan and also talked about Hokkaido and Japan's readiness to attract Muslim tourists and halal food in Japan.

Tonight's episode that I watched via Tonton live TV streaming was about batik in Malaysia and Japan. The batik in Japan that they refer is the bingata which is made in Okinawa and the texture is look like batik. I'm not really a fan or interested in the world of textures but I watched the episode with interest in Japan. Bingata is only worn by the Ryukuan royalty and only made by the families authorised by the Ryukuan royalty. So I believe that bingata making is a family business. Nowadays bingata is made by the Shiroma family and one of the family members of the Shiroma family is responsible for the bingata. He is Eiichi Shiroma. He had studied batik in Jogjakarta and was also able to speak some Malay when he met with a batik expert professor from Universiti Teknologi Mara and his mentor. Eiichi Shiroma inherited his ancestors' bingata tradition. His family is now in its 14th generation.

The batik expert professor from Universiti Teknologi Mara showed a Hokokai batik which was used by his mother. It uses the Japanese technique. The batik has different designs in each part of the batik in one fabric. He said one who wears this may think that she had two batik fabrics.

I also found out that the Malaysian batik downfall happened between late 1970s and early 1980s because batik was made using dull colour. Batik making revived during the Look East Policy in 1982.

The Majalah 3 team also went to a prison where some prisoners are thought to make batik. The batik expert professor from Universiti Teknologi Mara visit the prisoners who make batik. He wants the prisoners to pass the knowledge of making batik with honesty.

The batik expert professor from Universiti Teknologi Mara's former student is also interested in batik. He had once tried to introduce batik to Japan by using kimono. He is also interested in making batik using natural colouring using his experience.

A discovery of an ancient kris found in Okinawa in 2003 (I think this is the first time I know this) also made  a question mark on whether the Malay sultanate had made trade relations with the Ryukuan Empire. The kris was shown to the batik expert and his student by an Okinawan researcher named Prof Dr Kurayoshi Takara. The researcher, the batik expert and his student believes that this is one evidence that proves that trade relations between Malacca and Ryuku exists. The kris artefact is stored in the Okinawa Archaeological Centre. The centre's officer Yamamoto Masaaki is responsible for keeping the kris artefact.

The batik expert and his student also visited Shuri High School which is the oldest school in Okinawa. Bingata is one of its learning subject in the school so they visited there. The students, mostly girls, learn how to make bingata during their three years in the school. The batik expert also talked to the students in Malay about Malaysian batik making.

In the end, Eiichi and the batik expert collaboratively made bingata and batik motifs in a fabric. The end product is later exhibited at an art gallery at UiTM Shah Alam.

And that was the end of tonight's episode which is also Majalah 3's last episode for 2013. It is also a mere coincidence that the first and the last episode of Majalah 3 for 2013 is also about Japan. Tomorrow I'm going to watch Syahadah Tokyo special programme on TV9 in the morning.

Yet other programmes also talk about Japan at almost the end of 2013

Just two things I want to talk to supplement the earlier:

TV1 had aired a foreign documentary related to Japan which is Japan Tsunami - How it Happens on 17.12.2013 at 10:05 pm.

TV3's Majalah 3 goes to Japan again, this time talking about batik in Malaysia and Japan. It will air today at 9:00 pm. Here's the promo that I captured:


Sunday 29 December 2013

Media news daily: DTTB (digital TV) to be tested first in East Coast Peninsular

According to Bernama via New Straits Times, the Communication and Multimedia Minister had said in Kemaman on 24.12.2013 that the digital TV infrastructure development projects will start in mid-2014. He said it would be tested first in the east coast (Peninsular Malaysia) states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The minister said the reason why is to provide an opportunity for places with less (population) density to experience digital broadcasts before expanding to places with high density. The digital TV infrastructure development would incur a cost of about RM 1 billion and expected to be completed by 2017 before the government decides to end analogue TV broadcasts services by 2020.


Media news daily: 50 years of TV Malaysia

Yesterday was TV Malaysia's 50th anniversary. There were some programmes and news talking about TV Malaysia. One is Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia, Berita Nasional and the special programme Konsert Jubli Emas TV Malaysia. Today I searched the internet to find and gather any news related to TV Malaysia into this post.

New Straits Times meets some of the people who have been working with TV Malaysia and their experience working with and their unforgettable moments.

On Bernama through its feature, Mohammad Leftee Ahmad recalls his experiences with TV Malaysia ever since its launch in two series. The news agency also reveals how TV Malaysia do its reports in tough times and also sports events by speaking to one of the people who worked at TV Malaysia (RTM TV)'s programme division.

Bernama also report that the Communications and Multimedia Minister said that the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia will review the rate of payment of producers of programmes aired by RTM, in line with the increased costs that had to be borne by the programme producers in making a programme.

TV1's Berita Nasional at 1:00 pm made three reports about TV Malaysia, which were uploaded to RTM's YouTube channel. One is a special report on 50 years of TV Malaysia, the other is a segment containing facts about the history TV Malaysia and the other was Berita Nasional meeting some of the guests who are all formerly worked with TV Malaysia and have appeared on the earlier morning's Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia talking about RTM's switch to digital.

Local newspaper Kosmo had a special feature on 50 years of TV Malaysia with some related articles, according to yesterday's Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia on TV1.

Yesterday's Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia wholly concentrated on 50 years of TV Malaysia by meeting some of TV Malaysia's personalities.

Friday 27 December 2013

Disney Frozen in Malay dub version in cinemas last November

Just three months after two movies dubbed in Malay released to Malaysian cinemas, this movie also had a Malay dub which is shown to Malaysian moviegoers. It is called Disney Frozen. The movie also had another subtitle beside its main title in Malay which is "Anna dan Permaisuri Salji" (Anna and the Princess of Snow). The picure below is a snapshot of the movie's ad as seen on TV which shows the main voice actors of the movie's Malay dub.

  Main voice actors of the Malay dub of Disney Frozen in cinemas

Revised on 3.1.2014

Some TV programmes talking about Japan at almost the end of 2013

This month I found some programmes are talking about Japan; all of them are from Media Prima. One is TV3's Nona which on its episode on 22.12.2013 is about geisha and also some sightings to various places around Japan as I saw in a promo.

The other one is a special programme from Raudhah programme block that will be airing on New Year's Eve on TV9 which is Syahadah Tokyo. The tentative title according to my checkings at Tonton TV schedule was Nur di Nippon. It will air on 31.12.2013 at 9:00 am with a repeat the next day at 12:30 pm (I originally expect that Syahadah Tokyo will air at 12:30 pm on New Year's Day). The programme will meet some Japanese Muslims and to share their experience of becoming a Muslim. All the Japanese Muslims that the programme's team met speak English (based on what I saw in the promo below) so I expect that the programme will have Malay subtitles when they speak when the programme airs on TV9 although it will air in Malay as the original language with English subtitles, like how TV9 did with Ronggeng Rendang last Aidilfitri.

Here's the promo for Syahadah Tokyo:

There is also another TV programme that I checked on Tonton TV schedule which is called Ohayo. It will air on 8TV as the first programme of the day on 1.1.2014 at 7:00 am. I think this is a special programme but I'm not sure whether this programme will be Japan-related.

Malaysian TV: 50 tahun TV Malaysia videos

Here are just some videos from YouTube related to 50 years of TV Malaysia which falls on this Saturday. More posts to come...

Generic promo for 50 years of TV Malaysia by RTM with vintage TV equipments at Muzium Penyiaran Angkasapuri and the current TV equipments and studios at Wisma TV Angkasapuri



Promo for Konsert Jubli Emas TV Malaysia featuring Taufik Latiff, Dato' Andre Goh and Rohana Jalil

TV on-air presentation update

Today, me and my brother Hafiz checked Astro's channel list section and saw that most SD channels' EPG names are now longer than it was. They have longer names and also some are in full just like how Astro's HD channels did. Only some channels retain their existing EPG names, but I believe that they will change to their new EPG names soon. Previously it was just in a few characters and I believe it was only used for Astro's decoders (set top box) before the debut of the Astro B.yond-branded decoders and also SD channels.

We also checeked the FX channel on Astro where on the bottom-left side of the screen it says that FX will have a new look in 5 days, that is on 1.1.2014. It will replace the existing blue and yellow logo look and maybe the slogan The Edge of Entertainment.

Yesterday evening, I checked that some programmes are broadcast in 14:9 letterbox. They are Mimbar Pencetus Ummah live broadcast on Astro Oasis (simulcast in HD on Astro Mustika HD) and Tangisan Bulan Madu drama on TV1.

Earlier that evening I've also watched some of 30 Minit Ustaz Don live broadcast on TV Alhijrah. At the end of the programme from Hypp TV channel mosaic I saw that TV Alhijrah HD production endcap had some changes where TV Alhijrah's logo design was changed to the current one same as the one used in its station ident and also the "Terbitan" at the top was removed.

Thursday 26 December 2013

TV on-air presentation: Some changes to TV3's Mon-Thu primetime schedule starting 6.1.2014

From Tonton TV schedule that I checked today, it seems that TV3 would reshuffle some of its primetime programmes which air on Monday to Thursday to a different broadcast day. The last time TV3 revised its primetime schedule was on late June 2013.

The primetime programmes that change its broadcast day effective 6.1.2014 as follows:


  • Pearl Movie block moves back to Monday instead of Thursday (airtime shares with competing TV2's Golden Dragon Chinese movie block); airtime still the same which is 10:00 pm
  • 999 and Bersamamu moves to Tuesday instead of the usual Thursday; airtime also still the same which is 9:00 and 9:30 pm
  • Lestary drama block moves to Thursday instead of the usual Tuesday; airtime also still the same which is 9:00 pm
No change for other primetime programmes.

Follow up post: Media news daily: TV3 revises its schedule again for 2014

Small change to title of this post on 27.12.2013 and follow up post link addition on 2.1.2014

Sunday 22 December 2013

Media news daily: Good Morning Tai Tai (活力早晨) on NTV7 starting December 23

This news just came out from mStar.

Good Morning Tai Tai (活力早晨) will be Malaysia's first weekday Chinese morning talk show. It will start airing on 23.12.2013, every Monday to Friday at 8:00 am for one hour on NTV7. The show is produced in association with Media Prima's Chinese radio station One FM. It may replace NTV7's existing English-language The Breakfast Show which suddenly disappear during this recent year-end school holidays.

mStar quotes a media statement from NTV7, saying that the presenters for the upcoming show are Tiang Kah Chee, Jan Chin, One FM deejays, Hoon Mei Sim, Seah Song Fan and Goh Wee Ping. The show will become an information centre for viewers to share the current events and also the latest local and international news.

The show will discuss about various topics and issues and is segmented through different days of the week. Stock exchange information will also be a feature in Good Morning Tai Tai where the show will invite a stock analyst. The show believes that stock exchange information will be useful for modern housewives who who also want such kind of information. Other segments in the show will include husband and wife relationships and the Top 5 segment from One FM which lists out 5 things about the Tai Tai (housewife) lifestyle.

Friday 20 December 2013

TV on-air presentation: The position of TV2's programme banner

TV2's programme banner now as of the time I post this, has moved back to the top-left. I saw the programme banner at the top-left once after a long time (because TV2 was promoting public holidays at top-left and then blank after some time) at below TV2's logo during Fundance last Saturday on 14 December, then later switched to below TV2's logo for a few days and then move back to top-left again.

Anyway, TV2's Twitter account (@tv2_rtm)'s Photos and videos section is full of TV2's screenshots simply taken from their livestream which is sometimes used to promote which programme is airing right now. It's a good place to find out where the programme banner is actually located a few days ago. I can use them as evidences.

Tuesday 17 December 2013

List of VHF and UHF TV channels of Singaporean TV channels (Updated)

This is a follow-up of the earlier post that I have made.

Digital TV signals in DVB-T are marked bold in black and DVB-T2 are marked bold in blue while the analogue TV signals don't. These channels transmit from Bukit Batok in Singapore.

VHF (analogue only)
Ch E5: MediaCorp Channel 5
Ch E8: MediaCorp Channel 8
Ch E12: MediaCorp TV12 Suria

UHF (digital and analogue signals)
Ch E24: Media Corp TV12 Vasantham
Ch E27: multiplex carrying MediaCorp TV12 Okto, Media Corp Channel U and Channel News Asia in SD
Ch E28: MediaCorp Channel U
Ch E29: multiplex carrying MediaCorp Channel 5 (HD) and MediaCorp TV12 Suria (HD)
Ch E30: Media Corp TV12 Okto
Ch E31: multiplex carrying MediaCorp Channel 8 (HD) and MediaCorp TV12 Vasantham (HD)
Ch E32: MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia
Ch E38: multiplex in DVB-T carrying MediaCorp Channel 5 (HD), MediaCorp Channel 5, MediaCorp Channel 8 and Channel NewsAsia; previously for MediaCorp HD5 since its launch

Note: Ch E29 was previously used as MediaCorp TV's multiplex in DVB-T carrying Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U and Channel NewsAsia until April 2013 when later moved to Ch E38, probably later upgraded to DVB-T2 on 16.12.2013; MediaCorp Channel U moved to Ch E27 in DVB-T2 on 16.12.2013 when was previously on Ch E29 in DVB-T; Ch E37 was used for TVMobile in DVB-T until 2010

Sources: http://www.ida.gov.sg/~/media/Files/PCDG/Licensees/SpectrumMgmt/SpectrumNumMgmt/WhiteSpaceTP.pdfhttp://www.asiawaves.net/singapore-tv.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pWzd2aMCmw

With thanks to KZM for giving additional information.

Small revision on 18.12.2013, Updated on 19.12.2013

Media news daily: Singapore starts digital TV broadcasts

Today I've just received some piece of news from ABU and MediaCorp. Neighbouring country down south Singapore has just started terrestrial digital TV broadcasts using DVB-T2 since yesterday, starting with Bukit Batok. Jurong East and Ang Mo Kio will have digital TV in early 2014. Digital TV broadcasts in Singapore carries the HD versions of Channel 5, Channel 8, Suria and Vasantham and also the SD versions of other channels until being switched to HD in 2016. Digital TV coverage will expand within two to three years while the analogue signals will run parallel with the digital signals for another two years. MediaCorp will also offer value-add services on digital TV in the future such as time-shifted services, closed captions and multi-language subtitles.

Monday 16 December 2013

Media news daily: Bloomberg and Encorp to start Bloomberg Malaysia channel in 2014 [with some retrospective]

This news just came out today from Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Bloomberg and Encorp Group made a partnership to create a Malaysian business news channel in 2014 which is called Bloomberg Television Malaysia. Although ABU claims that this will be "Malaysia's first business news channel", it should be given to The Capital TV, which airs exclusively on Hypp TV and has similar genre with the yet-to-be launched Bloomberg Television Malaysia. The channel will be headed by Michael Chan, Malaysia's industry veteran and will be broadcast from Encorp Group's Encorp Strand, located at Kota Damansara. Its emerging anchors and reporters will use Bloomberg Television's reporting style.

This is not the first time such partnership between Bloomberg and a Malaysian company has made. In the early 2000s, Astro and Bloomberg made a partnership to provide business news for Astro's existing channels of the time without launching a separate channel dedicated exclusively to business news from Bloomberg. Astro airs Bloomberg-branded business news in Malay on Astro Ria, English on Bloomberg on Astro and Astro's news channel and in Chinese on Astro AEC. General news on Astro is provided by Bernama. Simulcasts of Bloomberg's channel has been aired for a time on on Malaysian TV stations; Metrovision in late 1990s and NTV7 in early 2000s in the morning. Bloomberg and Encorp Group's partnership means that this will be the first time a dedicated Malaysian Bloomberg channel will be launched. The existing Bloomberg Television channel airs on Astro and TM's Hypp TV. It is unknown whether the yet-to-be launched Bloomberg Television Malaysia will replace the existing Bloomberg Television channel in Malaysia.

PS: This is the first time I do a "Media news daily"-branded post. I made this branded post in a rush because I saw the news I mentioned above from a news source. As of time I write this post, I have yet to compile the weekly "Media news" starting from when I stopped blogging for a while due to SPM exams until now. I promise I'll do it. Also I may change the weekly "Media news" to a daily one like I did here after I made a compilation that I said.

Small revision on 17.12.2013

Thursday 12 December 2013

List of Malaysian newspapers carrying TV station guides (as of December 2013)

This is a list of Malaysian newspapers carrying TV station guides as far as I know. Feel free to add more information of any Malaysian newspapers carrying TV stations' guides if you have in the comment section below.

  • Utusan Malaysia/Mingguan Malaysia and Kosmo - TV1, TV2, TV3, 8TV, TV9, TV Alhijrah, Astro Ria
  • The Star Online - TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9, Life Inspired; The Star (on print and digital version) carries only synopses of selected TV programmes including Hypp TV channels and Life Inspired TV guide; in the Star Metro Johor edition, the Singaporean TV guide can be seen in the centrespread page 
  • New Straits Times [guide shows programmes airing from 9:00 am to 12:00 am only] - TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9, TV Alhijrah, selected English channels from Astro
  • The Sun [selected programmes of each channels are listed in the guide; not a full TV guide]- TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9 
  • The Malay Mail [evening programmes only] - TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9, selected English channels from Astro
  • Harian Metro - TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9, TV Alhijrah, Astro Ria, Astro Prima
  • Sinar Harian - TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, TV9, TV Alhijrah, Astro Ria, Astro Prima
  • Chinese newspapers - TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8TV, Chinese channels from Astro, local Chinese radio stations
  • Tamil newspapers - TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7, Indian channels from Astro and ABNxcess, Tamil radio stations

Tuesday 10 December 2013

List of Malaysian TV channels with internet livestreams (as of December 2013)

This is a list of Malaysian TV channels with internet livestreams. I start off with Malaysian TV broadcasters who have their own livestreams.

RTM (MyStream)
All livestreams available worldwide for free.

  • TV1
  • TV2
  • TVi
  • Galaksi Muzik RTM (carries two livestreams of RTM's still existing Muzik Aktif and Muzik FM; Muzik Aktif was previously on Astro until 2011 while Muzik FM until 2012 when Muzik FM's frequencies being handed over to the revived Nasional FM)
  • 1news (self-operating news channel)
  • RTM Parlimen (coverage of Malaysian parliament)
  • BES1 (simulcast news programmes at times; as of November 2013 has "siaran percubaan digital" text located below BES1's logo at top-left, possibly for future digital terrestrial TV broadcasts)
  • RTM's radio stations (national, state, regional and international; note the different logos of the state and regional radio livestreams)
Media Prima (Tonton live TV streaming)
These livestreams allows you to pause live programming or move the white circle below up to 30 minutes from live broadcast. Available in Malaysia only while the occasional events livestream is available either Malaysia only or global depending on the nature of the event. In the future users will need to login to the service with their Tonton accounts; as of the time this post was written the service is free.
  • TV3 (This and NTV7, 8TV and TV9 available in Malaysia only)
  • NTV7
  • 8TV 
  • TV9
  • Occasional events livestream (Available either Malaysia only or global depending on the nature of the event)
More to come... (Hint: 1 Malaysia IPTV)

Sunday 8 December 2013

List of TV3's new programmes on November and December 2013

I list out this when I was off from blogging due to SPM exams and now edited them out to include some new ones as of the time when I blogged this.
See first post and the later revised post.
Note: This and the other posts does not include any dramas because they have enough coverage on the media especially blogs.

GENERAL

Debuting/Returning
  • Preve Fun Challenge - sponsored by Proton; Saturday 7:30 pm since 2.11.2013
  • i-SME (TV3 names this programme as Isme; rather confusing) - hosted by Maya Karin and sponsored by SME Bank; Friday 6:30 pm
  • Dengan Inovasi Yo Season 2 - sponsored by MOSTI and now hosted by other people; Wednesday 6:00 pm
  • Projek Metro - hosted by Fara Fauzana; in association with Harian Metro and Hot FM; Sunday 10:30 to 11:30 pm since 3.11.2013
  • Dapur Panas - sponsored by Maggi Cukup Rasa; related to Aidilfitri-themed Dapur Panas aired this year?; Thursday 11:30 am since 31.10.2013
  • Mat Three Four - Saturday 9:00 pm since 7.12.2013
  • Res Q 2013 - returning after some years of hiatus; has made an Aidilfitri edition this year; Saturday 9:30 pm since 7.12.2013
  • Kintang-Kintung -  returning after a month and a half-long hiatus; now on Sunday 9:00 to 10:00 pm starting 15.12.2013
Ending
  • Liga Lawak Superstar - ended on 8.12.2013
BANANANA
  • Ema Emyliana - Wednesday and Thursday 6:30 pm since 13.11.2013
  • Mila & Biggie - 1-minute animated shorts produced by Silver Ant (the animation company which produced Seefood animated movie which was released in March 2012); airs on TV3 and TV9 since November 2013
  • Paddle Pop Dinoterra - sponsored Walls Paddle Pop; Tuesday 6:30 pm starting 19.11.2013
  • Over The Top Season 2 - sponsored by MBSB - Saturday 10:00 am and Sunday 10:30 am
Small revision on December 9 and 10

Wednesday 4 December 2013

I'm back

Hazimworks blog is now back after having a break for a month because I was having my SPM examinations. I did all my can during my SPM because I have revised all the subjects that came out in SPM. The period also means that I don't want to get busy with having no time to blog and have some stress. I'll get my SPM results in March next year.

Starting from now onwards I will start blogging more often because I have plenty of leisure time. No need to do blogging on weekends and holidays. I'll spend my time blogging about my interests and hobbies: broadcasting, anime, you name it.

Also just a reminder that the regular feature of this blog which is "Media news" was also on break after my last post on October 13 because I don't want to spend much time blogging but I still keep the details of what I saw on TV on my scribbling papers. This feature will return as usual from now on.

Saturday 26 October 2013

TV3 still has loads of new programmes in October 2013 - continued

This is a follow-up of the earlier post.

Today I found two new programmes which is going to air on TV3 soon through promos I saw.
  • new kids show under Bananana branding which I think is local comedy/drama series heard as "Emiliana" to air every Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 pm which may replace Planet Kiara re-runs
  • Orang Kita - every Saturday at 6:00 pm since October 26; hosted by Aidid Marcello (who also hosted SOS and Emergency on TV9 a few years back) and concentrates about the Orang Asli people


My appearances on the media so far (1st review now at a new post)

RECENT
15.4.2012 - participated with my parents as a studio audience for Apa Kata Wanita broadcast live from Studio 1 Angkasapuri on TV1 where the programme talks about autisme and Autisme Malaysia was invited
20.5.2012 - me and my brother Hafiz interviewed by Berita Adik TV9 Primeworks at the running training of Run for A Reason by Standard Chartered which is part of Standard Chartered KL Marathon held in June
16.9.2012 - became an emcee at Autisme Malaysia Aidilfitri ceremony held at a hall located at Masjid Putra Putrajaya and was reported by Malaysia Hari Ini TV3
27.5.2013 - went to Teddy Bear Outing organised by Suria KLCC with NASOM students where my brother Hafiz was interviewed there. I also make friend with a cameraman from The Capital TV production team who went there
3.7.2013 - was interviewed by Berita Harian about my life as an asperger along with my brother Hafiz and my friend Abraham Issac at NASOM Titiwangsa; my interview appeared on Berita Harian on 17.9.2013
7.9.2013 - was there at the first NASOM Family Day event where 1news of RTM was the only media team to go there
22.10.2013 - was interviewed by Mag Seven production team at NASOM Titiwangsa for an episode of Mag Seven which will air at a later date on NTV7


FUTURE
September 2013 - will be representing Malaysia in the ASEAN Youth Summit held in UKM Bangi cancelled (as of 26/10/2013)

Sunday 13 October 2013

Media news (episode 33)

Welcome to this week's media news.

RTM
Some weeks ago the Pesta Sukan RTM was held in Kota Kinabalu between September 22 and 25.



Media Prima 
This week I listed out many new programmes that are airing on TV3 since this month. Click here.

A special sponsored programme called "We Are Maersk South East Asia" airs for two weeks (October 7 and 14) on TV3 every Monday at 5:35 pm replacing the re-run of Music Box 2012. The programme is in English with Malay subtitles provided by other company on behalf of Maersk, not TV3's. This programme is about Maersk's experiences as a shipping company. Such programmes about shipping are rarely aired on TV.

On October 7, I saw the last bit of Majalah 3 (just after having a haircut along with my brother) where it mentioned about a internet school radio station called SKTM2FM which is located at SK Taman Melawati 2.

On October 8, I checked 8TV's Hot FM AM Krew programme. I think this is not the first time I saw the changed but I don't really realise this. The long-running live SMS chatting has gone and replaced by advertisements for how to send popular song ringtones via SMS, programmes that stream on Tonton and text greetings that appear on screen by sending via SMS. The Buletin Hot FM news updates are now using the resources of Berita Harian and Harian Metro instead of Bernama, much like other radio stations which now rely on their parent companies' news services such as Era relying on Astro Awani (since 2012) and Star Radio Group radio stations rely on The Star. How times changed.

Line Offline which airs on NTV7 and 8TV ended on October 11 with the last episode called "The Prank".

Reality series The Apartment which airs on Star World is now also seen on NTV7 with Season 3. NTV7 airs it every Saturday at 9:30 pm. The NTV7's airing is sponsored by Dulux.

TV9's branding for this year's Aidiladha reuses the existing Jawi writing of "Ikhlas" but in a different design. TV3 uses "Salam Aidiladha".
TV9 Ikhlas Aidiladha Disyukuri 1434H 2013M

On October 12, during the Pemilihan UMNO polling day, TV3 aired a variation of its existing blue-coloured TV3 news ticker. It is brown-coloured. The ticker can also be seen on NTV7 and TV9 on that day. Also during that day, news updates about the election were given during the day.
Special Pemilihan UMNO brown ticker from TV3 news 12-10-2013


A quick check on TV channels made by Youtube user "KokKZM" at 2:45 am the next day reveals that NTV7 and TV9 did not close as usual because they want to air updates on the Pemilihan UMNO polling results calculations.


Hypp TV
On October 11, I checked Euronews and saw that the channel had its graphics revised and redesigned to be 16:9 safe (to fit any widescreen-sized television sets, not the normal squared ones).


TV Alhijrah
TV Alhijrah has started airing two hours of live images from Masjidilharam in Makkah courtesy of Saudi Arabian state TV's Al Quran Al Karim channel since last week for the haj season. It airs daily between 12:00 and 2:00 am. Meanwhile, TV Alhijrah's Aidiladha design and theme song for this year remained the same as last year except the colour scheme changes to yellow instead of green.

Media news (episode 32)

Welcome to this week's media news for the week between September 30 and October 5.

Media Prima
TV3 has started airing telemovies nominated for Anugerah Skrin 2013 since October 3. It airs every Thursday at 10:00 pm replacing the usual Pearl Screen block.

TV3 news has a new look which is used since October 1 with Buletin Utama at 8:00 pm. It has a red theme. For the first time in 10 years, the theme tune for its main news programmes have been changed. The previous look was inspired from the current look of German broadcaster ZDF's Heute.

On October 2, technical faults have happened on TV3 and NTV7. When I checked TV3 at 5:15 pm, the TV3 logo appeared during a commercial break. TV3's fault screen appear around 6:00 pm and then resumed with Saladin without TV3 logo. NTV7 had its technical fault at 6:00 pm where it failed to air E7 Daily. A fault screen which reads "good feelings continue right after this" which started used a few years ago appeared until around 6:09 pm when normal programming resumed in progress with the top-right logo and subtitle faded out slowly. TV3 later announced in its ticker that there will be a system maintenance between 1:30 and 5:00 pm which was probably because of the earlier technical fault. The last time TV3 closed down was in January 2011 for two days because of maintenance.

TV1 and TV3 aired Prime Minister's speech at the United Nations in New York on September 30 at 9:00 pm with Malay subtitles.

Others
On October 1, I saw a news that Bernama TV is being restructured to be more competitive with other news sources.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

TV3 has loads of new programmes in October 2013

Here is a list of new programmes airing on TV3 as of October 2013. These are mainly programmes about religion, cooking (all sponsored), comedy and also one returning which is about young women. Don't forget that there is also a local kids programme returning this year which is related to the government. Other kids programme that are debuting recently on this channel have also aired on Astro; Ben 10 Omniverse and Gravity Falls. I'm not talking about new dramas on this channel.

  • Muhammadku (also known as Muhammad Cerita Tentang Akhlak) - every Friday at 5:00 pm since October 4 replacing long-running Al-Kuliyyah which has been running since 1997 (not sure whether the programme will run for 13 episodes or longer or completely replace Al-Kuliyyah)
  • Fiqh Wanita - every Friday 1:00 pm starting October 11; returning this year for a second season, between Fiqh Wanita is the long-running Al Hidayah which has been running since 1999
  • Liga Lawak Superstar - every Sunday 9:00 pm since October 6; new reality programme where the famous actors become comedians and has a circus theme; runs for 1 1/2 hour
  • Baba's Cubits Season 2 - every Sunday 6:30 pm since October 6 with a repeat on Monday at 11:30 am; sponsored cooking programme with English subtitles provided by the sponsor or the production company which makes the programme itself
  • Sunquick Varirasa - every Sunday 7:00 pm since October 6 replacing Boboiboy on this timeslot (Boboiboy still air as usual as a re-run until the new season which is season 3, this is actually the original timeslot for Boboiboy since first airing in March 2011); another sponsored cooking programme
  • 3R - every Sunday 7:30 pm starting October 19 replacing Junior Hidden Camera Show (foreign comedy programme) which is on a very short run simply to fill the vacant timeslot and also it is a new programme; returning with a new season with new presenters chosen in the recently concluded Projek 3R on October 5
  • Kintang Kintung - every Sunday 11:00 pm since October 6; comedy or game show
  • Doktor Muda Season 2 - every Sunday 11:30 am since September 29; programme about children's health sponsored by Ministry of Health
See follow-up for the other programmes debuting on TV3 in the latter part of this month.
(Revised on October 9 and 26)

Sunday 6 October 2013

Media news (episode 31)

Welcome to this week's media news for the week between September 23 and 29.

RTM
On September 23, I started to realise that TV2 has changed its programme name back to top-left again, instead of below the logo at the top-right. I think it was because TV2 wants to occupy the top-left side for the Hari Merdeka and Hari Malaysia animated logos.

There is a public service announcement seen on TV2 which is about discrimination of disabled people in English subtitles. It is produced by PCSOFT, a local production company, based on my check on the PSA on September 25.

Media Prima
On September 23, TV3's Buletin Utama began airing a countdown to the start of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 starting at 100 days left. The graphic is located at the top-left.

TV9 has started airing the Home Shopping Japan programme since September 22. It airs every Sunday at 12:00 am. There have been a few news reports about the launch of Home Shopping Japan some weeks before the debut, mentioning Tri-Stage Inc, Zenith Media and Home Shopping Japan Sdn Bhd. This is the first time a Japanese-styled home shopping programme being aired in Malaysia and also the first time a home shopping programme being aired on TV9 under Media Prima since 2006.
Here are two videos of Home Shopping Japan recorded by my brother Hafiz:


 

Planet Kiara has been re-running again on TV3 as of last check on September 24. It's a re-run of Season 2 which airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 pm. The Thursday slot was previously for Detective Conan Live Action Series first aired in Japan in 2010.

Astro
New channel A-list will start airing on Astro ch 456 in HDTV starting 1 October. It offers eight critically-acclaimed movie titles a month and is priced at RM 15 per month, according to Business Times website.  Here is a screenshot of A-list before its launch.

Hypp TV
Around this week, I saw the Parlimen Malaysia channel started airing on Hypp TV. This is the first time I saw a true Parliamentary channel in Malaysia much like BBC Parliament in the UK. The Parlimen Malaysia channel carries the Parliamentary sitting sessions courtesy of RTM where it also air the Parliamentary broadcasts on TV1 in form of highlights and shortened broadcasts. The Parliamentary sitting sessions which air on the Parlimen Malaysia channel are unedited and in full up until the end of the Parliament sitting session. The Parliamentary sitting sessions are done every Monday to Thursday in the morning and in the afternoon. Parlimen Malaysia also carry a simulcast of Fokus Hari Ini courtesy of The Capital TV at 8:00 pm daily. When the programmes are not airing, the slide below is shown. 




Others
On September 26, I spotted Bernama TV airing news updates which supplement the regular news bulletins under the name "Bilik Berita Bernama" which airs on weekdays every hour between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm and 4:00 and 5:00 pm. I think it started this week or maybe slightly earlier.

Saturday 28 September 2013

Sony BeTV HD on Astro ch 720 closure as it happened on 25.8.2013

This is how the closure of Sony BeTV HD on Astro ch 720 looks like on 25.8.2013, courtesy of this video from Hai712.

The procedure of the closure as follows according to the video:
  • Closing credits of an American sitcom and reminder of next programme "Men At Work" at 12:00 am which will not be aired after Sony BeTV HD on Astro closes afterwards
  • Ad for The Edge Bursa Malaysia Rat Race 2013 - didn't know at all that it happened a few weeks ago when I saw this
  • Astro Tutor TV UPSR ad ("Keep it simple and prepared with Astro Tutor TV UPSR")
  • Promo for Misteri Bisikan Pontianak on Astro First
  • Blue screen with warning "Please be informed that beTV HD channel has ceased transmission" 
The blue screen warning remained on the channel for 2 weeks and the channel switched off after the period.


Sunday 22 September 2013

Media news (episode 30)

Welcome to this week's media news. Not many interesting news this week.

RTM
On the early morning of September 21, I checked RTM TVi and saw Destinasi Borneo, a Chinese travelogue program which also has Malay subtitles which amazed me. This is the first time I saw a Malay-subtitled programme on RTM TVi. Even the subtitle position of the channel is different which is lower like TV2's 6:00pm Mon-Thu Chinese drama than TV1 and TV2's but the subtitle font is the same. RTM TVi has never aired any subtitled programme before nor air any commercial advertising like TV1 and TV2 did as far as I know.

Media Prima
Another football match will be broadcast by Media Prima after the recent Pesta Bola Merdeka on TV9 and the Malaysia XI vs FC Barcelona friendly match on August 10 on TV3. The Sultan of Selangor Cup will be broadcast on TV3 on September 28 at 9:00pm. The match will be between Selangor vs Singapore. Here is a screenshot of the match's livestream link on Tonton live TV streaming.
Recently I've really realised that there is a slight change on TV9's logo. I didn't really realise this barely seven months after TV9 redesigned its logo from being normal to a 3D cake one. The slight change is the edge part of TV9's logo in the middle which is changed from being round to being straight.

Saturday 21 September 2013

Media news (episode 29)

Welcome to media news for the week between September 9 and 16. I'm really sorry for the delay of the release of this post because I was busy having fun surfing the internet at home.

RTM
A filler programme which is currently airing on TV1 and TV2 is Merah Saga, a series of sketches that have patriotism value. The sketches have been made in front of audience at Audiotorium Perdana Angkasapuri. I think it started a few months ago.

On September 12, I saw Bernama TV reported that an RTM news programme aired a lookalike Royal Malaysian Police logo downloaded from the internet which offenced the police. RTM made an apology and suspended the individuals related to the incedent.

On September 12, I saw TV1's Biz Malaysia having new ticker graphics where the date and stocks are at the top while the news headlines ticker is at the bottom. It is now generated by a new software which makes the graphics neat much like other graphics used by RTM news instead of being Powerpoint-like generated which made the graphics ugly. Biz Malaysia had a temporary ticker graphic from the Powerpoint-like generator for a few weeks replacing the long-running one.

Media Prima
Izwan Azir Salleh of TV3 news who had just married two weeks ago is reporting on the 50th anniversary of Sarawak's independence within Malaysia.

In a promo for TV3 news' Malaysia Day coverage, I saw Buletin 1:30 and Berita Terkini being named as "B130" and "Terkini" respectively.
Malaysia Day coverage on TV3 news 15-9-2013
Planet Kiara is now airing on TV9 after airing on TV3 a few months ago. It airs every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

I've heard that there are three presenter auditions which were made by Media Prima this week. They are Pencarian Hos Raudhah (for women only and held in Sri Pentas), Pantene Star Search Anugerah Skrin 2013 and Projek Metro which is in collaboration with Harian Metro, Hot FM and TV3.

Astro
Astro ch 720 that I've mentioned before in a few episodes have been switched off and no longer available when I last checked on September 11.

On September 16, Astro had a day of free viewing of subscription channels after having an upgrade late at night.

I'm planning to update a list of Astro channels in 14:9 aspect ratio soon if I have time because I've checked the subscription channels on September 16.

Others
On September 12, I watched Bernama TV on Hypp TV at 6:00 pm where the programme was Bernama News with Market Report. The headlines was written in Malay instead of the usual English which amazed me. Meanwhile I also checked DW English on Hypp TV where the voiceover for such "in 15 mins/in 30 mins", "next week, same time" announcements are removed and is shown in text instead for the former only.

Sunday 8 September 2013

Media news (episode 28)

Welcome to this week's media news.

RTM
On September 1, TV1 aired a live rugby match called HSBC Rugby Asian Series 7-A Side at around 6:00 pm.

On September 2, I saw TV1's ticker showing an announcement of the Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia (new name for the Ministry of Information)wants to invite companies registered with the ministry to distribute foreign syndicated programmes to TV1 and TV2 when needed. The programmes will be used for airing in 2014. Link for the announcement is here.

TV1 and TV2 stopped using the special time banners for Syawal after the end of the recent Syawal month and reverted back to the normal time banner. Not sure if TV1 and TV2 will make something like this for the coming Hari Raya Aidiladha.

Media Prima
Dunia Eicak is airing as a re-run on TV3 (current airtime is Tuesday 6:30 pm) and also on TV9 after a period of airing during last Aidilfitri (August 12-18).

Now I'm going to reveal the real part of Pesta Bola Merdeka after a few pieces of news in my last two episodes. TV9 airs Pesta Bola Merdeka along with Astro. This year's Pesta Bola Merdeka will be held at Stadium Darul Makmur in Kuantan, Pahang and will be run for a week. TV9 will air live and delayed matches. A livestream on Tonton live TV streaming has been opened and is open for global audiences.
Airing before the Pesta Bola Merdeka pre-match programme on September 7 at around 5:10 pm with Kieran Hot FM is a re-run of Upin & Ipin episode Anak Harimau Bahagian 6 and Bananana Squad. TV9 uses its own commentary with Abu Bakar Atan of TV3 sports. Two matches will be airing on TV9 on September 7. This is not the first time TV9 air football although TV9 rarely aired too many sports programmes unlike others such as Astro and RTM. TV9 has aired Africa Cup of Nations along with TV3, this year's AFC Cup and also the UEFA Euro.

Here's an extra bit - I saw TV9's "Siaran langsung" (live) graphic which made the video contrast slightly dark. I captured this during the Pesta Bola Merdeka pre-match programme on September 7.


Astro
On September 7, I saw Astro airing "Excuse Me, Your Malaysian Is Showing" music video which shows many Malaysian phrases. It is part of Astro's Merdeka and Malaysia Day branding called Negaraku. The hashtag is #UrMalaysianIsShowing. Video link is here, courtesy of Astro's Youtube channel.

Sunday 1 September 2013

Media news (episode 27)

Welcome to this week's media news.

RTM
On August 26 I saw a promo for Opah. The 1980s drama series which is now revived airs every Wednesday at 9:00 pm on TV1.

Salam Baitullah will start airing in late September on TV1. It will be sponsored by Bank Rakyat.

This week I saw TV1's news ticker saying that a presenter audition for Mini Parlimen for children will be held at the Theaterette of Wisma TV Angkasapuri.  

Media Prima
On the evening of August 27 I saw Media Prima TV channels did not air their news programmes. It is such a strange moment for me. When I watched the end of 7 Edition of that day on Tonton on September 1, it was found out to be a technical fault. When I checked Berita TV9 on that day on Tonton too, it elaborated that news visuals cannot appear was the cause of the technical fault. I checked TV3 on August 27 and found out that it aired an episode of Edisi Khas as a filler programme in the midway during Buletin Utama and end at 9:00 pm. NTV7 aired some documentary series since 7:00 pm without an airing of Edisi 7 and 8TV and TV9 aired a longer version of Biodiversiti Malaysia PSA just before 8:30 pm.

TV9 will start re-running a telenovela called Rosalina which has been aired on TV3 in the early 2000s on a brand new drama block called Estrella. It will air on the block Monday to Friday at 11:30 pm. TV9 has never aired any telenovelas before but it had experience airing a few Filipino dramas. The drama block's slot was previously occupied by Hot TV and Fly FM Stripped which airs on Monday to Wednesday and drama re-runs and other programmes on other weekdays. Hot FM is now airing every Friday at 7:30 pm instead which replaces Hot TV Extra which is a compilation of Hot FM which airs Monday to Wednesday. Here is a screenshot of the logo of the new block, taken from Rosalinda's promo on TV9's Youtube channel.
I've mentioned about Pesta Bola Merdeka in the last episode. Pesta Bola Merdeka will also air on Astro and Tonton live TV streaming besides TV9. Here is a screenshot of Pesta Bola Merdeka coming soon on Tonton live TV streaming.
On August 30, I saw TV3's Buletin Utama reused the original name graphics which is used since October 2012. TV3 has stopped using the previous name graphics used since last July.

TV3 resumes using normal branding on August 26 after using the Seindah Ramadan-Anugerah Syawal branding.

On September 1, I saw Sembang Sembang Jom Heboh and other Jom Heboh-related programmes produced in HDTV and aired in 16:9 letterboxed on TV3. This weekend's Jom Heboh is held at Sandakan in Sabah.

Astro
This week I saw Disney Channel and Disney XD slightly changed their promo design. A banner which has the channel's logo and the airing date and time inside a line is located on the bottom-left side of the screen.

Hypp TV
Hypp TV has just launched three new channels at the end of this week. Click here.

Hypp TV new channels in September 2013

Hypp TV has launched three new channels today. Two are new while one is replaced by a new channel. Ch 604 and 616 will have free viewing for one month and will be subscription channels afterwards. Ch 121 will be a free channel. The former two are in SD while the latter is in HD.

Ch 121 - Showcase TV Direct
Malaysia's first 24-hour home shopping channel in English
Ch 604 - Channel [V] International
Music channel which replaces Nat Geo Music in HD; Channel [V] has also been aired on Astro for a long time until late 2000s when it was replaced by Fox Asia. This is Channel [V] second and returning appearance in Malaysia. Channel [V] appeared sometimes on FX HD on Astro.
Ch 616 - RTL CBS Entertainment
Entertainment channel from RTL Group and CBS Studios International which carries first run new Hollywood programmes such as The X Factor and Entertainment Tonight; RTL stands for Radio Television Luxembourg

Source: https://twitter.com/HyppTV/status/373973512685228032/photo/1/large

(Updated on September 7)

Sunday 25 August 2013

Media news (episode 26)

Welcome to this week's media news.

RTM
On August 20, I saw a promo for the Saya Sayang Malaysia competition where viewers can post videos about Malaysia and link it to the Facebook page Promosi Kreatif RTM. It features Fimie in the promo. From there I knew the name of the department which produce RTM's TV presentation, but when at time I write this post, I realised that this is not the first time I found the name of the department. I also found out that the department is located at 1st floor of Wisma TV Angkasapuri. Another one is Bahagian Pemasaran & Promosi RTM which is located at 5th floor of Wisma TV Angkasapuri. This is the link to the promo I saw.

TV1 still uses the three idents used in Ramadan as of last check on August 25.

Media Prima
On August 24, I saw NTV7 changed its programme identifier to a new one based on the "15 years of feel good moments" branding. I guessed the change took place on this week's Monday. The previous one was used since March 2012.

NTV7 programme identifier new look spotted on 24-8-2013

I started to realise that TV3's Buletin Utama has HP laptops where they used them as a decoration in Buletin Utama's desk. I spotted it by seeing the brand of the laptop. I also spotted on the same day where Buletin 1:30 now has a slightly new look headline picture which is located just on either left or right side of the presenter who is standing.

Pesta Bola Merdeka football match will be aired on TV9 on September 7 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, as verified from Tonton TV schedule.

This week TV3 still uses the Anugerah Syawal branding but in a moderate scale while TV9 has stopped using it.

Astro
The Astro Awani red button service returns when I last checked on August 23. This is my snapshot of how Astro Awani's red button main page looks like.

Sony BeTV HD on Astro ch 720 will stop broadcasting on August 26. More here.

List of filler programmes in case of technical fault on Emas Hypp TV ch 112 (as of August 2013)

This is a list of filler programmes in case of technical fault as aired on Emas Hypp TV ch 112 as of August 2013. I compiled the list last Sunday.

  • Senario 1996 (sitcom) episode "Rajin Adik Rajin Bhg 1&2"
  • Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu (sitcom) episode "Arjuna Bhg 1&2"
  • Jurnal Alam early 2000s (documentary series) episode "Madu Rimba" and "Apabila Harimau & Manusia Berkonflik (checked on 12.10.2013)
  • Sembilu Kasih (local drama) episode 1
  • Gegar Bersama Search 2006 (musical special)
(Updated October 13)

Brief list of local novels adapted to other media by Primeworks Studios (as of August 2013)

This is a brief list of local novels adapted to other media by Primeworks Studios as of August 2013.

  • Sebenarnya Saya Isteri Dia (adapted to TV drama from a novel)
  • Kil (adapted to movie from a novel published by local alternative book publisher Fixi)
  • KL Zombi (also adapted to movie from a novel published by local alternative book publisher Fixi)

Saturday 24 August 2013

Two TV programmes talking about Japan recently

There are two Primeworks Studios programmes that I heard talking about Japan recently. One is Mag Seven on NTV7 talking about the recent Bon Odori in Shah Alam and I remember seeing one a Bon Odori dance performance demonstration at the futsal ground located at the top floor of Sri Pentas. I don't watch all of them because I don't like to watch Mag Seven at all because the narrators are different in each episode of Mag Seven and most of them I heard are those from doing advertisements.

Another one I heard just now is in TV3's Majalah 3's next week's episode (Majalah 3 is now on Monday since July) the presenter will go to Hokkaido in Japan where she will be talking about the country and also discuss about the needs of Muslims going to Japan and the country's readiness to help the Muslim tourists (I think this has been discussed in Astro Awani's In Focus some months ago, I think in April, where one of the presenters goes to Japan and also talked about the Muslims visiting Japan, halal food in Japan and the halal industry in Japan).

Friday 23 August 2013

Sony BeTV HD on Astro ch 720 will be closed on 26.8.2013

Sony BeTV HD which is on Astro ch 720 will be closed on 26.8.2013. I heard about this from Youtube user h7440. He mentioned that the channel was previously known as AXN Beyond HD in 2010 and aired sci-fi shows.

Sony BeTV HD on Astro ch 720's history in brief:
2010 - started as AXN Beyond HD
1.4.2012 - changed name to Sony BeTV HD
26.8.2013 - channel's closure

(Revised on August 24)

Sunday 18 August 2013

Media news (episode 25)

Welcome to this week's media news. Last week I didn't make it so I make one this week with many new pieces of news, mostly about local TV presentation that I saw.

All the screenshots you see in this post are from my Flickr photostream.

RTM
Since the start of Aidilfitri, TV1 and TV2 redesigned their time banners which is located at bottom-left. The time banner for TV1 is now coloured blue while TV2 is coloured orange. TV2 also added today's date in Hijrah calendar with the "H" letter to identify the Hijrah year while TV1 does not add it (TV1 started airing today's date in Hijrah calendar since Ramadan while TV2 airs today's date in Hijrah calendar since Aidilfitri). The today's date in Hijrah year in the time banner's background's colour is green. TV1 and TV2's Aidilfitri programmes branding logo which is animated also appear above the time banner. TV1 has "Warnai Aidilfitri" while TV2 has "Riang Raya".
TV1 and TV2 Aidilfitri-branded programmes logo 9-8-2013
RTM TV1 Syawal time banner 7-8-2013
RTM TV2 Aidilfitri time banner 7-8-2013

On August 16, I saw TV2 moved its programme identifier from the usual top-left to below the station's logo. The programme identifier has three short line spaces below the station logo.The first time I saw it was when I checked TV2 and saw it airing a repeat of Konsert Sanggar Lebaran Siti Nurhaliza with the title "KONSERT SANGGAR LEBARAN". This screenshot below was taken during the next programme which is a Chinese programme called Splash Fiesta. On my last check of the channel on August 12 at 1:25 pm, the programme identifier is gone. Another check on the channel after the 1:30 pm programme which is a black and white movie called Mr Smith Goes to Washington revealed that the programme identifier returned.
TV2's programe identifier moves to below station logo 16-8-2013

Media Prima
While looking through my brother Hafiz's video captures on Youtube, I realised that NTV7 had now used the "15 years of feel good moments" branding through idents besides being used in promos and break bumpers. I estimated that NTV7 started using these idents since late July. I also took an opportunity capturing screenshots of the designs of the idents which differs through programme genres and markets (urban and Chinese) in terms of colour and language. They are different from the current idents used by NTV7 since March 2012 which has just 4 colours and something that resembles each programme genre for the programmes which airs on the channel. No change for the programme identifier and next programme identifier which appears during the start of any programme and after each commercial break of any programme.
NTV7 2013 15 years of feel good moments idents - all English versions
NTV7 2013 15 years of feel good moments idents - all Chinese versions
On August 5 NTV7's The Breakfast Show has got a new look and identifies as being broadcast live from Studio 4 Glenmarie. The Breakfast Show also now has a news segment called Morning Edition which is broadcast live from Studio 7 Sri Pentas.

Two new children's telemovies have been aired on the Bananana children's block. They are I Heart Kurma and Seringgit Kasorga. Both are Aidilfitri-themed and aired on TV3 and TV9. Another Aidilfitri-themed telemovie that was repeated on TV3 on August 18 was Hari Raya Cendawan which might also be a children's telemovie but not Bananana-branded. The telemovie's duration is 90 minutes. Also Dunia Eicak and Saladin Season 1 which have been aired on TV3 will be aired for a week in the early afternoons of August 12-18 on TV9. Bola Kampung the Movie which was in cinemas on March 21 has got its first TV airing on TV3 and TV9 on the first few days of Aidilfitri. The Bola Kampung The Movie characters also recently appeared in an advertisement for Johnson's Baby Cooling Powder.

It seems that Media Prima advertises more about some programmes' second screen services on the internet or other mediums (mostly by spoken word) rather than on TV. In the previous media news episodes I wrote that in Media Prima's Ramadan and Aidilfitri TV screenings, Media Prima announced that Karlos Raya will get a second screen experience, but I didn't see any advertisements on TV about that. One video about Media Prima's Ramadan and Aidilfitri TV screenings that I saw on Budiey's Youtube channel elaborated about Karlos Raya the second screen experience will be a video chat through Google+. Another one that I heard only in the internet but not on TV was Geng Kampung Pisang (comedy series which airs on TV3 last Ramadan) will be aired 24 hours before first airing on TV9. Meanwhile on a promo for 8TV's local horror drama series What If that I saw on TV a few days ago says that the drama gets a second screen experience where viewers can access the drama's website while watching the drama.   

Line Offline anime series sponsored by mobile messenger Line has been airing on NTV7 and 8TV since August 5 (evidences: @onelikming and @WindKoh on Twitter). NTV7 airs it at 8:30 pm while 8TV airs it at 9:25 pm every Monday to Friday. The anime series has 50 episodes with each running under 5 minutes. The NTV7 broadcast that I observed on August 12 has English dub in American English accent without any translation subtitles while the 8TV broadcast has Chinese dub with Chinese subtitles. The same episode is aired on both channels on the same day. A "Line Everywhere" animated advertisement is seen after each episode ends the anime (the end credits are not aired but the opening titles do with the credits which appear in Line's speaking bubbles in English on NTV7 or in original Japanese on 8TV) and straight away goes to the next programme.

TV3 news has added a small Salam Aidilfitri logo under the TV3 news' programme title since midway during Buletin Utama on August 9. The screenshot below was taken during the end of Buletin Utama on August 12. The logo was replaced by an animated Jalur Gemilang flag with the days left on the right side of the flag as of my last check on August 16.
buletin utama salam aidilfitri logo 12-8-2013
I also found out that the font and design for the credits seen during the end of TV3 news' programmes remain unchanged since first used on 1.10.2012 while the name graphics other than the credits have not changed as reported in episode 23 of media news.

Astro
On the evening of August 12, I saw PGA Tour on Golf Channel Astro ch 815 airing in 14:9 aspect ratio, not the usual 4:3 aspect ratio.

Priscilla Patrick who does the traffic updates on Astro Radio has moved to Star Publications' radio stations. She had worked for Astro Radio presenting traffic updates for a long time.

Astro Awani now permanently added a blue business exchange stock ticker and stock exchange index information as of last check of the channel on August 15. Another check of the channel on August 17 finds out that only the stock exchange index information appears on weekends and days where there are no stock exchange trading days. The ticker and the index information is located the lower part of the screen with the headline ticker and was previously only appeared during stock exchange trading days between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Hypp TV
Last week and this week I spotted Emas ch 112 had a brief occassion where a few programmes shown on the channel had their aspect ratio upconverted from the original broadcast aspect ratio of 4:3 to 16:9 windowboxed on the channel's 4:3 aspect ratio broadcast signal. They are Mitosastras (local drama), Siapa Pintar (children's game show aired on TV9 in 2009) and Gila Gila Shopping (shopping-related reality show aired on NTV7 in 2006 and produced by Niche Film Sdn Bhd). Hypp TV does not have aspect ratio upscaling options unlike Astro.

(Small revision on August 24)

Media news extra (August 2013)

Here are some pieces of news that I forgot to report in the regular media news series in my blog but I have reported it on my scribbled A4 papers that I keep at my home. Also I want to have some thoughts.

For a short time in late July, Astro Awani had a red button service where it included brief headlines of the major news stories. It is no more available as of my last check of the channel on August 3.

"Unit Promosi & Kreatif TV RTM" is one of the departments of RTM which is responsible for designing the TV presentation and promos for RTM TV, evidenced from Syahadah's end credits.

Stream.MY is a local company which is responsible for the live streaming of RTM's radio and TV channels. The company was responsible for changing the streaming media from Windows Media Server to Flash Media Server, developing live streaming for mobile devices through RTM Mobile and realtime monitoring.

On July 6, I went to KLCC for a jog in the evening with my father and while there, I went to KL Convention Centre and saw a temporary control room for AIM Chinese made by Astro.

(To be continued with deadline on 31.8.2013)


Star RFM office address

According to Asiawaves:
Tropicana City Office Towers Level 2.01 No 3
Jln SS20/27
47400 Petaling Jaya
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
 
The Star RFM offices at Tropicana City Office Towers houses the radio stations Red FM, 988, Suria FM and Capital FM. Star RFM moved to there in mid 2011 according to blogger Mynn Lee (a deejay of Red FM). Star RFM's previous office was at Am Assurance building at Jalan Lumut Kuala Lumpur.


Animated movies now have Malay dub version for cinemas

Recently I saw commercials for two animated movies on TV which are The Smurfs 2 and Disney's Planes. For the first time after many years, the Malay dub version for both movies are available on cinemas when they are released. The former's has voices by famous local actors. The latter one says that a 3D version is available in original English version.

In recent years, the Malay dubbed versions of animated movies and sometimes movies too are heard on Astro channels such as Cartoon Network Asia, Disney Channel Asia, HBO Asia and Fox Movies Premium. In 1999 there was a movie called Disney Tarzan which has been dubbed in Malay with local actors and released in cinemas, which is so far the only time I heard a movie dubbed in Malay until when I write this post.

Tuesday 13 August 2013

TV Alhijrah close flow (as of 13/8/2013 at 12:30 am)

This is how TV Alhijrah's close of transmission's flow looks like. I observed it through live streaming on 1 Malaysia TV.

1. Al-Quran reading part taken from Dikir Zikir
2. Longer Al-Quran reading
3. Ident
4. Tasbih Kifarah & Surah Al-Asr (shorter)
5. Negaraku
6. Animated "Syawal Satu Kemenangan" close screen announcing that TV Alhijrah returns at 6:00 am, with some nasyid
7. Still part of "Syawal Satu Kemenangan" close screen with silence (seen after some minutes later)

Friday 9 August 2013

List of Klang Valley-only radio stations (as of August 2013)

These are the radio stations that can be heard in the Klang Valley-only (as of August 2013).

88.9 Capital FM (women targeted radio station owned by The Star)
89.9 BFM The Business Station
93.9 Bernama Radio 24 (owned by Bernama; also airs in Johor Bahru)
101.3 UFM Memang Beda (1M4U-related station)
107.9 1M4U 107.9 (1M4U-related station)

Wanita FM on 88.1 MHz was also a Klang Valley-only radio station targeting women. It was later bought by Media Prima and later changed as a Chinese radio station called One FM in 2009.


Thursday 8 August 2013

Ronggeng Rendang on TV9 features a Japanese who wants to cook rendang

Today I watched Ronggeng Rendang, a special Hari Raya programme produced by Primeworks Studios and airing on TV9. The programme featured a Japanese who wants to cook rendang.

The Japanese featured in Ronggeng Rendang was Masaya Saito aged 26 and came from Yokohama, Japan. He has been married and studies in Universiti Malaya in Business studies. He was selected after being questioned by the programme's production team. The production team searched for foreign university students who can cook rendang. The production team believes that rendang is one of the best dishes in the world. Masaya is actually an exchange student and knows about the Malay culture through the exchange. His favourite food is tempura.

The production team sent Masaya to a village in Beranang and met with his foster family who is an expert in rendang. He was there for three days with Pak Kama. Throughout the period he learnt how to cook one of the types of rendang which is called rendang ayam. He also managed to find the ingredients needed to cook rendang ayam with the help of some locals. He even went to a feast and also a dinner with Pak Kama's big family to experience a typical Malay life. Masaya was friendly with the locals. Pak Kama knows that Masaya is a Buddhist so Pak Kama bought him to a temple at Bukit Broga after a day of his experience cooking rendang.

On the third day Masaya cooked the rendang ayam. After he cooked the rendang, he met the locals and wants them to sample his own cooked rendang ayam. The locals say that his cooked rendang was delicious. At night, he called his wife at Kuala Lumpur and talked about his experience at the village and cooking rendang.

The next day, Masaya went to The Royal Chulan Hotel where he will present his own rendang ayam to the royalty. First, he cooked some rendang ayam with his experience when he was at the village. Some chefs at the hotel made some help and tasted his rendang. Later, he went back with his very own version of rendang ayam where he changed the usual rice used to eat the rendang with Japanese rice. He managed to mix Japanese and Malay elements in his rendang. He wore a yukata that was borrowed from the Japanese Embassy. Then he presented his very own rendang to a royalty which is the Raja Puan Mahkota Perak. She finds that his cooked rendang was delicious and rated it four stars. The Raja Puan Mahkota Perak found out that Masaya wears a yukata to symbolise that he is a Japanese and she believes that he has some spirit of patriotisme. Masaya was thrilled to have the experience and wants to use his experience in the future.

In short, this programme was very entertaining and also informative. In fact this programme is light in nature rather than being serious. The production team has made a good job in making this. I believe that this programme will strengthen the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Japan.

(Small revision on August 10)

1M4U 107.9 FM

Today I managed to log a new radio station that I found on the 107.9 Mhz. It is another station which has the same thing as UFM Memang Beda on 101.3 MHz (which I had mentioned on the previous posts). It is called 1M4U 107.9 FM. It broadcasts in the Klang Valley but the signal is not as good as the others (same goes to UFM). The 107.9 Mhz frequency that I heard in the Klang Valley was previously a distant signal of Negeri FM from Negeri Sembilan which I can hear here.

I might have been late to found this new station because I didn't expect this station will be launched. The Prime Minister talked that this station will be launched very soon when launching 1M4U last year but I didn't expect that and believe it was a rumour. Actually I found UFM 101.3 first, then today I found 1M4U 107.9 FM. I only know these two stations by myself through hearing their station identifications. Didn't know it through the news when it launched or by people who had listened it. So I might be late.

According to a Harian Metro report which I found through a Google search, this station was launched in March after two months of test transmissions. The purpose of the station was to inform about the volunteering works made by 1M4U (1 Malaysia for Youth).

Wednesday 7 August 2013

TV9 closedown between 6:00 am and 6:30 am on 7.8.2013

Today TV9 had a brief transmission break between 6:00 and 6:30 am. This is not as listed in Tonton TV schedule where the 4:00 am programme appeared to be airing until 6:30 am.

Before the 6:00 am closedown it was preceeded by a filler (a long PSA on Malaysia Biodiversity) after a repeat showing of the telemovie Baju Raya Istimewa at 4:00 am, Azan Subuh from TV3 (this would be the last time the Azan Subuh will air for this year's Ramadan, last year TV9 aired its own), some promos and Negaraku. Resuming back transmission at 6:27 am with a 15-second countdown, Negaraku, some promos, Raudhah programme block ident and programme classification.

This will be the only day in Ramadan 1434H TV9 does a closedown before the next day which is the first day of Hari Raya where TV9 will resume its normal closedown time of 1:30-6:30 am.

These videos were the actual closedown-startup procedure today as recorded by my brother Hafiz.



Tuesday 6 August 2013

Aidilfitri greetings to all the readers of my blog

I would like to take this opportunity to say Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri Maaf Zahir Batin to all the readers of the blog. May Allah bless you all. Assalamualaikum.


Monday 5 August 2013

Media Prima's Anugerah Syawal branding

Media Prima's branding for this year's Aidilfitri is called Anugerah Syawal. It is the continuation of the Seindah Ramadan branding. This branding is used in all Media Prima companies especially its TV channels. The theme song for this branding is called Anugerah Syawal and is performed by indie rock band Bunkface. Two versions of the song have been made; one is the rock version (known as "pop rock") and another is the acoustic version.

This is how Media Prima TV stations use the Aungerah Syawal song (I first wrote about this in my recent media news post):
TV3: acoustic version is used for its Anugerah Syawal main promo which has a boy and a girl, both teenagers

NTV7: rock version is used for its Anugerah Syawal-branded programme promos

And these are the music video variations of the Anugerah Syawal but use the rock version of the song

Media Prima staffs MV version which is also seen on Media Prima TV channels as a short version of this (from Hot FM's Youtube channel)




Studio recorded MV version (from TV3's Youtube channel)


UPDATED 7/8/2013: Full HD version of the studio recorded MV version (from TV9's Youtube channel)


UPDATED 13/8/2013: On August 13, I saw an acoustic version of Anugerah Syawal on 8TV and TV9. This music is used in Anugerah Syawal TV3's presentations such as "selepas ini", "petang ini/malam ini" menus and breakbumpers.


To conclude this post, here are the two live versions of Anugerah Syawal on MHI TV3 and The 8TV Quickie



Saturday 3 August 2013

University radio stations around Klang Valley

Here are some university radio stations that are located around Klang Valley.

90.7 Putra FM 
operated by Universiti Putra Malaysia with assistance from RTM's Selangor FM, broadcasting from UPM's campus in Serdang, launched when UPM's Fakulti Bahasa Moden dan Komunikasi started offering Bachelor in Communication in 1998 and also the first digital public university campus radio station in Malaysia

93.6 UFM
operated by Universiti Teknologi Mara and broadcasts from UiTM's main campus in Shah Alam, launched in 1996, also with assistance from RTM's Selangor FM, airtime is from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Previous names were Radio 3 Shah Alam siaran ITM, Radio Malaysia Selangor siaran UiTM, Trek 936 in 2000 before changing to present name in 2001

MW/SW transmitting stations around Klang Valley

These are the MW/SW (medium wave/short wave) transmitting stations around Klang Valley that I know. All these transmitters are owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia. The other MW/SW transmitting stations in Malaysia are at Sabah and Sarawak, relaying local stations which are airing on FM. Other MW/SW transmitting stations in Peninsular Malaysia have been removed and moved to FM. One example is Johor FM.

  • RTM Kajang (can be seen along Jalan Cheras, Cheras-Kajang Highway and Kajang Silk Highway, used mostly for RTM's shortwave simulcasts of some radio stations such as Klasik Nasional, Traxx FM and Asyik FM/Salam FM and Voice of Malaysia (RTM's overseas service); I am more familiar seeing this transmitting station)
  • RTM Jalan Haji Sirat, Klang (coordination according to Wikimapia: 3°4'49"N 101°26'8"E, can be seen while driving at the Lebuhraya Pintas Selat Klang Utara Baru (SHAPADU Highway) at KM 12 just before an R&R station, first time saw this station was in June 2013 and first thought it was used for maritime communication since it is located close to the port)
(Revised on August 7 and 18)

Friday 2 August 2013

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)

Sunday 28 July 2013

Media news (episode 23)

Welcome to this week's media news. Not many interesting news this week.

RTM
On July 24, I saw TV1 airing a variation of its doa berbuka puasa which is animated and features a boy and a girl.

Media Prima
Media Prima launches Saya Sayang Malaysia campaign with Boh Plantations for the 56th Merdeka celebration and the 50th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia and also the continuation of #MySyg (more here:http://www.mediaprima.com.my/pressrelease/press-release.aspx?id=186)

On July 23, I saw Jejak Rasul on TV3 at 6:00 pm being broadcast in 14:9 aspect ratio. The next day it airs in the usual 16:9 letterbox.

On July 24, I saw Buletin Utama revised its name graphics.
 
TV Alhijrah
1 Malaysia TV no longer provide streaming of TV Alhijrah when I last checked the "LIVE @ TVALHIJRAH" page of TV Alhijrah's website where the embeeded streaming media has changed to a message from 1 Malaysia TV stating "This channel is not available in your country". When I checked 1 Malaysia IPTV's website, I found out that TV Alhijrah's live streaming is gone.

UPDATE 2/8/2013: The live streaming returned when I last checked on August 1 after I had breaking fast.

Hypp TV
This week Hypp TV made two advertisements; I saw both of them on Emas on Hypp TV ch 112. One is about KidsCo on ch 560 now has a programme block called SyFy Kids from SyFy. Written in the text of KidsCo's advertisement is the offering of an audio option in English and Mandarin beside Malay (actually English is the main broadcast language of this channel) starting July 22. Another is about Hypp TV Everywhere which offers live streaming of its Hypp TV channel offerings through App Store and Google Play apps and through a desktop version accessible through its website. This is only available for Unifi and Streamyx broadband 4 and 8 Mbps customers. A free trial is available for its customers until September 30.

(Updated on August 2)

Saturday 27 July 2013

Lesser-known Malaysian broadcasting stations that I know who owns them (July 2013)

Here are the lesser-known Malaysian broadcasting stations that I know who owns them, through self-observation on TV and my findings in the internet.

  • EC Inspirasi (Hypp TV ch 111) - claims as Malaysia's first dedicated youth TV channel; owned by Homegrown Productions Sdn Bhd where most of the programmes in the channel are produced by itself, operating since June 2012 (source: https://www.facebook.com/ecinspirasi/info)
  • Emas (Hypp TV ch 112) - Media Prima archive content channel owned by Media Prima Content Services which has been operating since June 2011, also Emas Plus and Emas Style on ABNXcess digital cable TV (source: http://www.mediaprima.com.my/pressrelease/press-release.aspx?id=184)
  • Hikmah (Hypp TV ch 113) - Islamic content channel with some programmes sourced from JAKIM, also airing through its website, operating since 2010 (source: http://hikmah.tv/v2/)
  • mobTV.my (internet TV station) - also known as The Malaysian Observer.TV, a Malaysian news portal operating since April 2011 and owned by Contract Advertising Sdn Bhd with its offices at 28-2, Jalan 25/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
  • MyTTV (internet TV station) - also known as My Tourism TV, a Malaysian news portal concentrating on Malaysian tourism, operating since December 2012 and owned by the same company which owns mobTV.my (see MyTTV's microphone head that I captured)
  • UFM (Klang Valley 101.3 Mhz) - youth radio station broadcasting in the Klang Valley only, seen its advertising banner at mobTV.my and also has its Facebook page

Sunday 21 July 2013

Media news (episode 22)

Welcome to this week's media news. Almost all of the news that I reported this week are TV branding related.

RTM
On July 18, I found out that the TV1 Mewarnaimu ident used since February 2013 now has some female singing vocals.

Media Prima
Media Prima Digital has launched a Ramadan and Aidilfitri content website. The website is called http://www.ramadanraya.com.my/. The website offers recipies from Ramadan-related cooking shows on Media Prima's TV channels such as Ini Caranya, Mencari Resepi Turun-Temurun and Menu Kalimah, highlights of festive related TV programmes and some web-exclusive shows from Tonton such as Raya Fesyen Kritik at the Fesyen section and 1001 Persoalan.

This week I saw two slight variations of Primeworks Studios endcap. One that I saw in Eve's Diary on 8TV is Primeworks endcap animation followed by 8TV Chinese logo and copyright statement under a white background. Another one that I saw in a repeat of Mencari Resepi Turun-Temurun on TV9 is a slightly extended theme tune of Primeworks Studios endcap.

Also since this week NTV7 celebrates its 15th anniversary with the title "15 Years of Feel Good Moments" with a birthday cake and many candies which is seen in its promo (see video below) and promo designs. The music is a remake of NTV7's ident's music which is used since March 2012. 


From TV9's Youtube channnel, TV9 has revealed its upcoming branding for Aidilfitri which is called "5 malam 4 hari". The song for this branding is performed by Alif Satar, a local singer. This branding is not yet airing on TV9 at the time this was written.


On July 15, I listened to KL FM's Azan Isyak and heard that the bilal was the same one as the bilal heard on TV3 and TV9's azan broadcasts since 2012.

On July 16, I spotted a presentation error on TV3 where the programme name identifier appeared during a commercial break at 4:18 pm.

On July 20, I saw the programme name identifier on TV9 reappearing a few seconds after the end of Azan Zohor during Jom Berbuka. This is a rare occurence because TV9's programme name identifier does not come out after azan broadcast.

Astro
On July 18, I saw an "18+" rating (18+ written in white in a small red dot) located at the bottom-left on ART Variety on ch 111. The rating that I saw was for a drama called Asia which was aired at 6:00 pm on the channel.

Hypp TV
On July 18 during Sahur time, I saw Hikmah ch 113 (the Islamic TV channel that carries programmes from JAKIM) being added to the live TV mosaic on ch 100. Hikmah does not appear at all in picture-in-picture mode since I started watching Hypp TV service in 2011.