Bernama TV
CountryMalaysia
Broadcast area
Programming
Language(s)
Picture format1080i (16:9/HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerBERNAMA
History
Launched
  • 28 February 2008 (2008-02-28)
  • 8 October 2021 (2021-10-08)
    (myFreeview) (HD)
Closed
Former namesBernama News Channel
(25 May 2016 – 9 October 2019)
Links
Websitewww.bernama.com/tv
Availability
Terrestrial
Malaysia MYTVChannel 121 (HD)
Logo briefly used by the channel from 2016 to 2019.

Bernama TV (known briefly as Bernama News Channel from 2016 to 2019)[1] is a Malaysian free-to-air news television network. It is owned by Bernama, a government news agency. It airs news programmes that are related to local and international business, lifestyle, sports and entertainment. Alongside its main focus as an Malay-language news television channel, Bernama TV also produces news and current affairs content in Malaysia's other official languages of English, Chinese, and Tamil across its platforms.[2]

History

Bernama had wanted to operate its own TV channel in 1996, but was rejected; instead the government recommended to produce video news items similar to Reuters.[3] However, in 2008, Bernama's proposal to have its own channel was tabled on cabinet.[4]

Bernama TV was launched in 1998 and began broadcasting on 28 February 2008.[5][6] Like Radio Televisyen Malaysia's television channels, Bernama TV have some amount of commercial advertising. Its news bulletins were initially aired on Astro Ria, Astro Prima, Astro AEC, Astro Wah Lai Toi and Astro Vaanavil, but they have since been integrated to one Astro network. Its news content is primarily broadcast in Malay. However, there are also news bulletin in English, Mandarin, and Tamil since 2018.[7][8] Other shows that are broadcast on Bernama TV are flagship talk-shows like Malay-medium Ruang Bicara as well as English-medium The Nation and The Brief.

In the years that followed, Bernama TV established its name through its coverage of key events in Malaysia including the Lahad Datu standoff,[9][10] the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riot.

In 2009, Bernama TV facing a financial diffulties when it accumulated loses over RM15 million and would cease broadcasting soon, pending a restructuring plans. This prompted Bernama to looking for potential buyers who interested to buy the channel.[11]

On 25 May 2016, Bernama TV went into a major rebrand, rebranding itself as Bernama News Channel (BNC)[12] only to quietly revert to its original logo and name in October 2019.[1] The staff were offered a contract with Gem Bytes Sdn Bhd on 14th day of the same month and year. On 8 October 2021 from 12:00 am onwards, Bernama TV switch to broadcasting in HD format.

In 2021, Bernama TV garnered a total of 73 million from viewership on its social media platform. As of May 2022, it increased to 78 views.[13]

Programming

The programming of Bernama TV is focused primarily on news, business, and politics with weather updates, sports news, informative, religious and lifestyle programs as secondary contents. The network also shows documentaries and television specials.[13] Bernama TV is one of the two Malaysian television news channel broadcast in 4 languages, namely Malay, English, Tamil and Mandarin. The other being Berita RTM, a news channel owned and operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia.

Awards and accolades

Year Award-giving body Category Recipient Result Ref.
2023 The Knights Award 2023 The Rapid News Distribution of All Time (Malaysia) Bernama TV Won [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Bernama TV Rebrands As Bernama News Channel". Bernama. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "BERNAMA, news source for media in South-East Asia". Mehr News. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "No TV permit". The Straits Times. 8 April 1997. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Cabinet to decide on Bernama TV channel". The Malay Mail. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "24/7 Bernama TV goes on air today". The Malay Mail. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Zainuri Misfar (5 March 2008). "Saluran berita TV tempatan perlu dipopularkan". Berita Harian. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  7. ↑ Chester Tay (31 May 2018). "Bernama to resume Tamil and Mandarin news". The Edge Malaysia. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  8. ↑ Mohsin Abdullah (11 August 2022). "Bernama: Missing the big picture". Sin Chew. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Bernama TV to air show on intrusion". New Straits Times. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "Dokumentari pencerobohan". Harian Metro. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  11. ↑ "Bernama TV looking for buyer". The Edge Malaysia. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Bernama TV rebrands as Bernama News Channel". Malaysiakini. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Bernama TV laksana pelbagai strategi kukuhkan kedudukan dalam persaingan industri penyiaran negara". Dagang News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "BERNAMA TV honoured at The Knights Award 2023". New Sarawak Tribune. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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