After Media Prima CJ Wow Shop kills the kids' rights, RTM shall launch kids oriented TV channel

Within 2018, RTM had launched 2 new TV channels and 2 radio stations on MYTV platform, RTM Sports HD (sports channel), RTM News HD, Radio Klasik and Asyik FM.

Starts from 2019, the commercial TV broadcaster Media Prima is no longer airing majority programs on ntv7, instead replacing with CJ Wow Shop Mandarin segment on ntv7, meanwhile TV9 airs CJ Wow Shop Malay segment.

Media Prima TV9 was used to air majority kids and teenagers oriented programmes. Since 2016, TV9 was fully flooded by CJ Wow Shop shopping television programme. In addition, ntv7 was used to air kids cartoons on weekend morning, but the kids segment was replaced by CJ Wow Shop, then ntv7 tried to rebrand on March 2018 by putting more Malay, English programs and returning kids' cartoon in weekend mornings. Since 31st December 2018, ntv7 discontinued all programs and launched CJ Wow Shop Mandarin as majority slot on ntv7. Beside CJ Wow Shop Mandarin segment, ntv7 only airs news, Korean shows, and some rerun 8TV Chinese programs.

On 1st January 2019, Media Prima standalone 24 hours shopping channel CJ Wow Shop and Malay drama channel Drama Sangat were ceased transmission, both channels were used to have trial transmission by playing rerun programs from TV3, and 8TV. After CJ Wow Shop standalone channel was closed down, the shopping television channel is on ntv7 and TV9 in Chinese Mandarin and Malay respectively.

Hmm.. Media Prima looks like taking away kids' rights of watching cartoons on their TV stations by launching CJ Wow Shop. Now, cartoons only remain on TV3. Hahhahahahha! XD

Feel pity to the kids who were watching ntv7 and TV9 for their favorite shows after ntv7 and TV9 extend CJ Wow Shop hours, Media Prima only remain some kids oriented programs on TV3, 8TV as minority ones. In addition, the kids oriented program on TV9 remains 1 hour.

I noticed that it is normal if viewers will be angry when Media Prima put CJ Wow Shop as majority programs on ntv7 and TV9, but for broadcaster's stance, it is different. TV industry is more difficult than radio as it is linear enough.

When the kids has no choice of watching their favorite programs, they may go for pay TV such as Astro fun channels (Ceria, Xiao Tai Yang, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network etc), but not all people will own Astro.

After 14th Malaysia general election on 9th May 2018, RTM is slowly rising up of its offer. In conjunction with FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, RTM had launched its first ever HD channel, known as RTM Sports HD, it is RTM free-to-air sports channel in Malaysia, recently RTM launched news channel, known as RTM News.

Looked at other countries such as Singapore and China, their public broadcasters have kids oriented TV channels. In China, CCTV (China Central Television, public TV broadcaster in China) has kids oriented TV channel, known as CCTV-14 children channel. In Singapore, public broadcaster MediaCorp has kids and teenagers oriented TV channel, known as OKTO, but it also broadcasts sport live telecast alongside with kids programs.

In my opinion, RTM can do the same thing as China and Singapore by launching kids oriented TV channels. Currently, RTM is airing some cartoons on TV2 during weekend. It is the time to separate them, RTM can launch kids oriented programs with these suggested names:

1. RTM Cilik HD

2. RTM Junior HD

3. RTM Krayon HD

4. RTM Kids HD

5. RTM Toon HD

6. RTM Budak HD

7. RTM Pendidikan HD

8. RTM4 HD

With launching RTM children TV channel, Malaysia's kids can watch their favorite cartoons, kids game shows, animations on this channel via MYTV DTT platform. 

For this suggested RTM kids oriented channel, I suggest that RTM shall broadcast education programs, alongside with kids entertainment shows such as cartoons and game shows, so the kids can enjoy the channels while learning. At the same time, the educational programmes may benefit to them.

==Suggested programs/format of RTM kids oriented TV channel==

* Cartoons, animations

* Some archive cartoons from RTM in the past decades

* Educational programs (mathematics, science, languages, exams related etc)

* Teenagers programs

* Learning programs  

* Junior talent shows

With launching of RTM kids oriented channel, all kids programs where currently broadcasting on TV2 can be transferred to this channel. At the same time, TV2 can put more programs. Since Tamil programs are very niche on Malaysia free-to-air TV, actually TV2 can extend more Tamil programs by transferring all TV2 kids cartoons to the new channel.

For the proposal names above, to target kids and teens by airing cartoons, junior game shows and educational programs, I think the name "RTM Junior HD" sounds suitable than others because the term "Junior" covers kids and teens, aged from 4 to 17. In addition, besides the kids entertainment, the viewers can learn new things where related to the school through educational programs.

==Why are rest of proposed names not suitable?==

1. RTM Cilik HD

- Cilik means small in English, where translated from Malay. The group of "cilik" is actually from 4 to 12, not feature with 13-17 age group

2. RTM Krayon HD

- Unofficial name for future RTM TV station after digital switchover in 2020. Krayon is more on kids entertainment, but less on educational programs.

3. RTM Toon HD

- Unsuitable proposed name because "Toon" derived from "cartoon", means RTM will air cartoons 24 hours a day without featuring some other junior related programs.

4. RTM Budak HD

- Budak means "boy" in English, but it is not suitable to be used. If do so, RTM only targets "small boy" viewer?

5. RTM Pendidikan HD

- Sounds good, but too serious. Kids will not be entertained by channel if RTM airs 24 hours educational program. While they feel stressful at school with assignments and school works, they need to relax by watching cartoons.

6. RTM4 HD

- Follow TV1 and TV2 name format with numberings, but unimpressive to the kids. Singapore MediaCorp junior oriented channel does not put channel numbering exactly, instead okto which means "8" in Greek language. In addition, East Malaysians oriented channel does not follow numbering, instead TV Okey, but it was used to attempt rebranding as TV5 around April 2017.

7.RTM Kids HD

- Good proposed name, but in order to target teenagers more, RTM Kids HD name is not suitable. The term "kids" is aiming 4-12 years old, meanwhile baby is from 0-3 years old (infant). The people who aged between 13-17 is not known as kids, but teenagers.

Between all proposed names, RTM Junior HD is suitable to become proposed name as future digital terrestrial television channel in Malaysia.

==Analysis of age group based on proposed names==

* Cilik: 4-12 years old

* Budak: 4-12 years old, but male

* Junior: 4-17 years old

==Analysis of format based on proposed names==

* Cilik, krayon: Cartoons, educational programs (primary school)

* Junior: Cartoons, learning, educational (primary + high school) and talent

* Toons: 24 hours cartoon

* Pendidikan: 24 hours educational (including exam related)

TV Pendidikan was dissolved in 2008, actually it can be relaunched by merging into RTM Junior HD. So, kids can enjoy learning and being entertained with awesome cartoons.

During school break session, they can watch their favorite shows on RTM Junior HD. Actually before 1 month of exam such as UPSR, PT3 and SPM examination, RTM Junior HD can air at least 1-2 hours of educational program with exam questions, but depend on the demands due to people are able to watch tutorial channels via Astro.

RTM Junior HD can compete with several channels from Astro such as Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, TVIQ, Xiao Tai Yang, Ceria and Tutor.

After Drama Sangat 104 and CJ Wow Shop 105 standalone channels are removed from MYTV, I think RTM Junior HD can take over CH 104. 

 

In conclusion, I wish RTM will have a good move in 2019, I do also wish RTM will launch this junior oriented TV channel as soon as possible.

==Background of proposed RTM future DTT channel== 

* Name: RTM Junior HD

* Target: Kids, teenagers, aged between 4-18 years old

* Content: Cartoons, junior oriented movie, learning, junior talent shows, educational programs
* Percentage: 60% entertainment, 40% education

==RTM TV channels==

* TV1: Infotainment, news and talk

* TV2: General entertainment

* TV Okey: East Malaysia oriented

* RTM Sports HD: Sports channel

* RTM News HD: News channel (under trial transmission)

* RTM Junior HD: Cartoons, animations, learning, junior game shows, talent shows and educational programs (proposal)