Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysia’s public broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will stop broadcasting its television channels on the platform operated by Astro Malaysia Holdings beginning July 1, marking the end of a collaboration that has lasted almost three decades.
As reported by the New Straits Times, RTM said it will terminate the distribution of its channels TV1-HD, TV2-HD, and Okey on Astro’s satellite and over-the-top platforms after the two parties failed to reach a pricing agreement amid rising channel carriage costs.
“After many years of cooperation and continuous negotiations regarding the costs and rental rates for these services, it has become difficult at this time to reach a pricing agreement and contract that meet the needs and financial capabilities of both parties,” a circular from RTM said.
It also added, “Accordingly, RTM has decided to terminate the broadcasting services of RTM channels, namely TV1-HD, TV2-HD and Okey, on ASTRO’s satellite platform and over-the-top (OTT) platform operated by your party. This termination will take effect on July 1, 2026.”
The decision ends a broadcasting arrangement that began in 1996 when Astro launched its satellite pay-TV service in Malaysia.
Under the move, viewers who access the RTM channels through Astro will no longer be able to watch them via the platform after the termination takes effect on July 1, 2026.
RTM is Malaysia’s government-owned national broadcaster under the Ministry of Communications. Established in the early decades of the country’s broadcasting history, the organisation has long operated multiple radio networks and television channels as part of its public service mandate.
For many years, RTM served as the country’s primary broadcaster and was the only television provider until commercial networks emerged in the 1980s. The organisation has produced a wide range of news, entertainment, sports, and cultural programming, and has played a key role in broadcasting major national and international events.
Meanwhile, Astro is Malaysia’s main satellite pay-TV operator, which launched in 1996 and rapidly expanded its subscriber base nationwide through digital satellite services. The company offers more than a hundred television channels and radio stations, including high-definition programming and IPTV services.
The collaboration between RTM and Astro enabled the public broadcaster’s free-to-air channels to reach households that relied primarily on the pay-TV platform, helping extend the reach of channels such as TV1 and TV2 beyond terrestrial broadcasts.
The termination of the carriage agreement comes as the Malaysian broadcasting sector faces changing viewing habits and growing competition from streaming platforms and digital media services. Astro has also faced increasing pressure to maintain its content offerings and subscriber base in recent years, as consumers shift toward on-demand and internet-based viewing options.
