My suggestion on BFM 89.9 programmes schedule changes

Until today, BFM 89.9 weekdays programs from Morning Run till Enterprise, then Enterprise to The Bigger Picture, and The Bigger Picture to Evening Edition, the programs are good enough.

After weekdays 8pm, the programs are filled by repeat of BFM 89.9 Weekend Supplement, also with Ross football shows (On The Ball and Off The Ball). 

==BFM 8pm-11pm weekdays programs (since December 2018)==

* Monday: 8pm Off The Ball, 9pm Science vs., 10pm Wavelength (Repeat)

* Tuesday: 8pm I Love KL, 9pm A Bit of Culture, 10pm 33RPM

* Wednesday: 8pm BBC World Service, 9pm Style File, 10pm (music)

* Thursday: 8pm Bar None, 9pm Night School, 10pm Take Five

* Friday: 8pm On The Ball, 9pm Every Little Thing, 10pm The Flow (Repeat)

Because At The Movies and Bookmark were axed since December 2018, then At The Movies slot (which was originally from 7pm till 8pm) is filled by Evening Edition Talkback from 7pm till 8pm on weekdays, meanwhile Bookmark slot was replaced by BBC World Service from 8pm till 9pm on Wednesday.

I do listen most of programs after 8pm, especially on Tuesday and Thursday, meanwhile I seldom listen on the rest of the days. Seriously say that, I feel dull when Wednesday 8pm program is filled by BBC World Service.

BBC World Service program on Wednesday 8pm sounds very dull to me, I don't turn on radio at that time. In the morning, I listened to serious things, Breakfast Grille and current affairs breakfast program, Morning Run when I'm in the car while going to office, then Evening Edition after the office hours. After 8pm, I do listen to some thing "me hours" and "less seriousness" programs by weekend supplement programs such as A Bit Of Culture, I Love KL, Take Five, 33 RPM and Night School, meanwhile sometimes I do listen to Style File.

Weekdays consist 5 days, from Monday to Friday. Actually BFM shall allocate 1 day with repeat of weekend music supplement. From 8pm till 10pm, 4 days are repeat of talk show, meanwhile 1 day is repeat of music program.

At the same time, I noticed that there is no replacement slot on Wednesday 10pm after Muddy Confluence Music Companion went farewell with final episodes last year, less logic to put talk shows at 10pm. 

Comes to 2019. New year, new thing, new program slot.

In my opinion, BFM post-8pm programs on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday look good, but BFM 89.9 shall reallocate Wednesday post-8pm programs.

BBC World Service shall be axed on Wednesday, then Style File (Repeat) can be filled on Wednesday 8pm, then Pick of The Pops (repeat) can be filled on Wednesday 9pm. Style File and Pick of The Pops are BFM 89.9 weekend supplements which produced by Ms. Adeline Choong. I think this can become a perfect match to put them on Wednesday 8pm-11pm.

Back of October 2016, BFM 89.9 That Time of Night and rest of weekend supplements were exchanged time slot. Originally That Time of Night was on 8pm, then the rest were 9pm. After the exchange, That Time of Night was on 9pm, but the change caused Pick of The Pops had no longer repeat. In the past, Pick of The Pops (repeat) was on Monday 9pm.

I usually listened to Pick of The Pops on every Monday 9pm. After the repeat program was axed, I listened to the show via podcast by downloading at office computer. Then, I played it on Saturday 6pm till 8pm, flexible hours that I arranged.

More than 2 years that Pick of The Pops has no repeat on weekdays, although it doesn't affect me much, but I still need it on weekdays as repeat.

==My suggestion on BFM programme schedule==

1. Wednesday

* 8pm-9pm: Style File (Repeat)

* 9pm-11pm: Pick of The Pops (Repeat)

2. Sunday

* 3pm-4pm: Cruise Control (Repeat)

Minor changes on BFM programme schedule for 2019 can improve the quality of the radio station.

Mutiara FM 93.9MHz Gunung Jerai co-channel interference

Here are the videos of Mutiara FM 93.9MHz Gunung Jerai interference reception in Penang.

RTM Mutiara FM 93.9MHz from Gunung Jerai is badly interfered by Nasional FM 93.9MHz from Bukit Genting in Georgetown, Gelugor, Air Hitam, Bukit Mertajam and Central Penang.

Although Gunung Jerai covers whole Penang, but Mutiara FM 93.9MHz has different case with other radio station. RTM Mutiara FM 93.9MHz from Gunung Jerai only covers Batu Feringghi, Tanjung Bungah, Teluk Bahang and Northern Penang with lower power about 0.25kW, meanwhile Nasional FM 93.9MHz from Bukit Genting covers only southwest Penang Island where is not covered by Gunung Jerai. The co-channel interference between Mutiara FM and Nasional FM 93.9MHz in Georgetown, Gelugor, Air Hitam and Bukit Mertajam will not give listeners impact because their listeners can tune to clearer and more stable frequencies, Nasional FM 100.5MHz from Gunung Jerai and Mutiara FM 95.7MHz from Bukit Penara. In addition, Georgetown, Gelugor, and Central Penang are not under coverage of Mutiara FM 93.9MHz Gunung Jerai.

Alongside CJ Wow Shop, can Media Prima re-enter pay TV market to cover loss revenue?

Since 2014, Media Prima suffered loss profit. Now, its loss revenue is narrowed due to implementation of digital marketing, rather than traditional.

Thanks to digital revenue and home shopping programmes (CJ Wow Shop) to narrow the loss revenue figure.

From 31st December 2018, Media Prima ended ten months of unsuccessful programming segregation on ntv7, and extended CJ Wow Shop Mandarin segment on ntv7. In my opinion, it is common if normal audience will blame Media Prima for extending CJ Wow Shop broadcast hours on ntv7 and TV9 where gain lower rating because they have been used to watch those channels, but in the stance of broadcaster, I understand this implementation is applied because Media Prima still suffers loss revenue, although it is minimized, so they need to rely on new revenue way to cover the loss by launching CJ Wow Shop and digital revenue. CJ Wow Shop is also digital marketing initiative by Media Prima because people can shop their products via online or CJ Wow Shop mobile app when they watch TV. In addition, Media Prima does so because many people are shifting to non-linear platform to watch their favorite content where linear platform can't make, the group begins to focus on digital marketing. Besides that, for 2019, Media Prima just wants to concentrate only TV3 and 8TV as traditional free-to-air TV, meanwhile NTV7 and TV9 goes as home shopping television channels. Media Prima also launches its mobile games application to profit more on digital.

Beside the digital revenue, the biggest enemy of Media Prima actually is Astro, a satellite pay TV in Malaysia. Astro has been monopolized pay television market in Malaysia for many years, but recently UniFi TV is competing against Astro, but UniFi TV is only available in areas where covered by UniFi. In my opinion, I doubt that whether it is relevant or not if Media Prima expands its operation by entering pay TV market.

Media Prima was used to have pay TV station, known as Mega TV, first Malaysia's cable TV provider before Astro, launched in 1995, but closed in 2001 due to stiff competition with Astro, as well as unable to expand its content. Mega TV was pay TV under TV3 (Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad, STMB), it broadcasted via DVB-C which was invented in 1994.

To compete with Astro, it sounds good if Media Prima re-enters pay TV market by relaunching Mega TV as pay TV provider, but what kind of transmission technology can be adapted for Media Prima's pay TV?

DVB-T2 is digital terrestrial television. In Malaysia, it is managed by MYTV Broadcasting, commercially known as "myFreeview", currently DVB-T2 are running free-to-air television stations and RTM national radio stations. For the frequency of DVB-T2, most of the areas are using UHF 546MHz (CH30), 594MHz (CH36), 666MHz (CH45), 674MHz (CH46),  and 682MHz (CH47), some of regions run single-frequency network (SFN). MUX 1 is belonged to MYTV Broadcasting, actually Media Prima can launch its pay TV channels by expanding DVB-T2 multiplex (example: MUX3) with another frequency (example: UHF 570MHz aka CH33 for pay channels). Once if when Media Prima is willing to launch pay TV via DVB-T2, few spectrum shall be reserved for Media Prima pay TV, but problem is Media Prima needs to install more transmitters nationwide, so this will make subscription fees for "all new Mega TV" very expensive due to high transmission costs.

If Media Prima chooses to adapt DVB-C2, which is digital cable television, same as DVB-T2, just difference is DVB-C2 transmits via cable, meanwhile DVB-T2 is via air. ABNxcess is an failure example, a DVB-C pay TV in Malaysia, suffered huge loss due to unable to expand coverage and less attractive channels, also poor management of the company. DVB-C2 transmits via cable with QAM modulator on UHF frequency, but to launch "all new Mega TV" as cable television, Media Prima still needs to expand coverage by putting more DVB-C2 transmitters, so this will not be effective much, unless Media Prima choose to target Chinese and niche pay TV markets.

Satellite in Malaysia known as MEASAT. Astro, Malaysia biggest pay TV, broadcasts via satellite by adapting DVB-S (for Standard Definition channels), and DVB-S2 (for High Definition Channels) technology. In the short future, Astro will launch 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) TV channels by adapting DVB-S2X (extended version of DVB-S2 technology). MEASAT is owned by Ananda Krishnan, which is Malaysia's tycoon also owns Usaha Tegas, Astro and Maxis, but I don't think Media Prima will launch pay TV via DVB-S2 independently as high transmission costs, although DVB-S2 can cover nationwide instantly. Actually Media Prima already offers its 4 free-to-air TV to be available on Astro, but impossible it can provide its premium channels via Astro, despite they're competing each other.

The technology of DVB-S is monopolized by Astro in Malaysia, the disadvantage of DVB-S is sensitive to the rain fade because it runs on Ku band frequency. Many people who subscribe Astro are not happy when comes to rain fade. Because of this issue, I suggested Astro to use C band, rather than Ku band due to rain fade, but I noticed that with this switchover to C band will burden subscribers because C band transmission equipment is very expensive. 

If Media Prima launches pay TV via satellite, subscriber will face also the rain disruption because using Ku band. If Media Prima uses C band, the subscription fees can be higher than Astro.

Satellite vs. Cable. I think Media Prima is suitable to re-enter pay TV market through cable television tranmission, DVB-C2 as pay TV provider if the group is willing to do so. Beside TV3, NTV7, 8TV and TV9, Media Prima can launch premium channels where imported from overseas as pay channels, this may help to increase revenue. If Media Prima relaunches Mega TV as pay cable televis

For the moment, Media Prima is focusing on digital marketing and home shopping. So, the suggestion to re-enter pay TV market is not materialized for the time being.

DVB-C television in Malaysia

In Malaysia, DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) is adapted for digital television broadcasting. First, it was DVB-S, launched in 1996 by Astro, a direct broadcast satellite pay television provider in Malaysia, following by DVB-S2 for Astro high definition HD channels.

Second, DVB-T (terrestrial) was adapted by MiTV, second and now defunct pay TV in Malaysia, then RTM went trial transmission on DVB-T. Later following by DVB-T2

DVB-H (handheld) was also used by U Television in short time, but this technology was irrelevant after launching of 4G and LTE.

Third, DVB-IPTV is used by Unifi TV and now defunct DETV, another pay TV providers.

DVB-C was not well known in Malaysia, but a Malaysia pay TV was used to adapt DVB-C. It was ABNxcess, launched in 2013, but collapsed in 2016.

For this pay TV, ABNxcess, during 2013 till 2016, it was cable TV on DVB-C, but its service coverage was limited within Klang Valley and Johor Bahru, it was unable to expand more area of its coverage. Till 2016, this pay TV faced huge financial crisis, and finally collapsed, even now ABNxcess sounds being involved in few lawsuit recently.

For pay TV, DVB-C is not suitable in Malaysia.

DVB-S just requires only 1 satellite to cover nationwide, but DVB-C requires more transmitter towers, so transmission fees for DVB-C broadcast is higher than DVB-S. This result cable TV subscription fees is more expensive than satellite TV. In conclusion, DVB-C is not successful in Malaysia.

ntv7 new slogan and tagline after extending CJ Wow Shop hours since 2019

After ntv7 axed all Malay and English programs, then replaced by CJ Wow Shop Chinese segment and broadcast CJ Wow Shop Chinese segment all day, the slogan "Feel It" is no longer used, but since ntv7 broadcasts shopping programme majority, here are some "suggested" slogan for ntv7.

In Chinese:

In English:

In Malay

CJ Wow Shop has two slogan, in Malay and Chinese respectively. Its Malay segment slogan is called as "Hidup Mesti Ada Wow" (Life Must Have WOW), meanwhile Chinese segment slogan is called as "天天精彩, 天天WOW" (Wonderful everyday, WOW everyday). Actually CJ Wow Shop Chinese segment can add its slogan with this picture below:

I Love CJ Wow Shop, at NTV7.

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)