MYTV should launch a new multiplex (MUX3) on VHF band to transfer all radio channels from existing MUX 1 and MUX 2 where are on UHF band.

 

As November 2020, MYTV Broadcasting is currently having 30 TV and radio channels on two multiplexes (MUX 1 and MUX 2). Both multiplexes are on UHF band (500-600MHz).

16 TV channels and 14 radio channels.

MUX 1 is mainly multiplex for RTM, TV Alhijrah and Bernama, mostly government owned media, it consists:

(MUX1 TV channels)

- RTM TV1

- RTM TV2

- RTM TVOkey

- RTM Sports 

- Berita RTM

- TV Alhijrah

- Bernama TV 

 

(MUX1 Radio Channels)

- RTM Radio Klasik

- RTM Nasional FM

- RTM Traxx FM

- RTM Ai FM

- RTM Minnal FM

- RTM Asyik FM

- RTM Sabah FM

- RTM Sabah VFM

- RTM Sarawak FM

- RTM Wai FM

MUX2 is mostly private broadcasters' multiplex:

(MUX 2 TV channels)

- TV3

- ntv7

- 8TV

- TV9

- Astro Go Shop

- Awesome TV

- WowShop Chinese

- WowShop Malay

- Drama Sangat

(MUX2 radio channels)

- Kool FM

- One FM

- Hot FM

- Fly FM

Look at existing multiplexes, TV and radio channels are sharing in a MUX, plus radio broadcasting was on UHF which may not be convenient to the listeners who tune in the car (with DVB-T2 interface).

In my opinion, to split TV and radio channels from sharing a MUX, MYTV Broadcasting should launch a brand new multiplex (MUX3) for radio channels by making VHF Band III application to MCMC.

I will strongly agree if MYTV transfers all existing radio channels to brand new MUX on VHF Band III. After all radio channels are transferred to VHF Band III multiplex, at least MYTV can reserve existing MUX1 and MUX2 for new channels. This can reduce congestion in the multiplex.

I never suggest to launch MUX3 on UHF band for radio broadcasting because VHF band travels further than UHF band due to low frequency, so the transmission coverage of MYTV VHF Band III multiplex radio channels will be wider than TV channels.

 

People consumes radio more than TV for outdoor, VHF Band III is suitable for mobile purposes because people listen to radio in mobile condition (eg: car).

Technically radio channels on MYTV platform is considered digital radio broadcasting, known as DVB-T2 Lite (a rival of DAB Radio).

About DVB-T2 Lite, it can be on VHF Band I (47MHz-68MHz), VHF Band III (174MHz-230MHz) and UHF Band (470MHz-682MHz). In terms of multiplex channel capacity, DVB-T2 Lite is better than DAB+ Radio because DVB-T2 Lite can fit more radio channels than DAB+ Radio on a MUX.

About frequency of DVB-T2, it is on VHF Band III (174MHz-230MHz) and UHF Band (470MHz-682MHz).

Here is the frequency and channel list of VHF Band III for DVB-T2 Lite (7MHz per channel):

* CH 5: VHF 174MHz

* CH 6: VHF 181MHz

* CH 7: VHF 188MHz

* CH 8: VHF 195MHz

* CH 9: VHF 202MHz

* CH 10: VHF 209MHz

* CH 11: VHF 216MHz

* CH 12: VHF 223MHz

Hence, VHF Band III consists eight channels, the band range is 56MHz (7MHz per channel x 8).

MCMC can assign VHF Band III frequency to MYTV Broadcasting for radio channel broadcast.

If MYTV gets VHF Band III frequency license (MUX3) from MCMC successfully, all 14 existing radio channels will be broadcast on VHF Band III. As DVB-T2 Lite can fit 44 radio stations on 1 multiplex channel (compare to DAB+ which only allows 16 stations per multiplex), MYTV will have more spare radio channels space for MUX3 on VHF Band III. So, for those new radio broadcasters who are interesting to launch their radio stations on MYTV Broadcasting platform, MUX3 can fit more actually.

As DVB-T2 Lite supports 44 stations per channel as I mentioned above, after 14 existing radio stations were transferred, hence there is 30 stations remaining to be used on MUX3 (VHF Band III).

 

==Proposal of MYTV DVB-T2 Multiplex==

* MUX 1: TV Broadcast (UHF Band)

* MUX 2: TV Broadcast (UHF Band)

* MUX 3: Radio Broadcast (VHF Band III)

With this suggestion, there is also limitation. Firstly, it is about the cost because DVB-T2 transmission has a lot of equipment to be installed, compare to FM and AM. Secondly, the response from broadcasters. Thirdly, annual transmission fees must be considered when launch MUX 3 for radio broadcast on VHF Band III.

In conclusion, I hope MYTV will put this proposal into its consideration.