U Television

Not to be confused with Channel U (Singaporean TV channel).
U television
FormerlyMiTV
Founded5 September 2005
OwnerBerjaya Media Berhad

U Television Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as U Telecom Media Holdings Sdn. Bhd. and MiTV Corporation Sdn. Bhd., with MiTV being an abbreviation of its former name, Malaysian Interactive Television) is Malaysia's third pay television operator. It was launched on 5 September 2005,[1] after having obtained all the necessary approvals from the censorship board on its broadcast contents. The company initially offered 41 channels from content providers worldwide, with many of them new to the Malaysian market.[2]

History

Set to end Astro's monopoly in the Malaysian pay TV market,[2] MiTV originally planned to launch in December in June 2004,[3] moving to October in July[4] and the second quarter of 2005 in January 2005.[5]

In August 2004, MiTV signed a deal to carry Channel News Asia in its platform.[2]

In January 2005, MiTV planned to be listed in the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia.[5]

MiTV was officially launched on 5 September 2005 by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, at the Manhattan Ballroom in Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

One of U television's distinguishing traits is that it uses an Internet Protocol over UHF-based transmission system. Subscribers are required to install a standard UHF television antenna as opposed to a satellite dish to receive broadcasts. U television is therefore able to broadcast even during inclement weather.

U television is largely owned by Tan Sri Vincent Tan, the president of the Berjaya Group.

On 31 October 2006, the company announced a restructuring that included suspension of all marketing and new subscription activities. In addition, approximately 66% of the companies workforce was retrenched.[6]

U television also owns a mobile phone operator called U Mobile.

See also

References

  1. ^ "MiTV Corp dilancar 5 September". Berita Harian (Singapore). 27 August 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Channel NewsAsia to air in Malaysia". Today. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Vincent Tan's MiTV set to rival Astro's Pay-TV". Business Times (Singapore). Bloomberg. 5 June 2004. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Malaysia's 2nd pay-TV operator to begin service in Oct". Business Times (Singapore). Bloomberg. 30 July 2004. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "MiTV may list on KL exchange". Business Times (Singapore). Bloomberg. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. ^ "MiTV Announces New Technology Roadmap". 2006-10-31. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-09-12.