Bernama TV
Bernama TV is a Malaysian free-to-air news and current-affairs television network owned by the national news agency Bernama.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Bernama TV is a Malaysian television news network associated with Bernama, Malaysia's national news agency. The channel was developed to give Bernama a dedicated broadcast outlet for news, current affairs and public-information programming, after the agency had explored the idea of operating a television channel for more than a decade. Its full television service began broadcasting on 28 February 2008. The network's primary editorial language is Malay, reflecting its domestic public-service and national-news role. It also produces and distributes news and current-affairs material in English, Mandarin and Tamil, making it one of the Malaysian television news services operating across four languages. Its coverage extends beyond headline news to business, politics, international affairs, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, weather, religion, documentaries and television specials. Regular discussion and analysis formats have included the Malay-language programme Ruang Bicara and English-language programmes such as The Nation and The Brief. Bernama TV has used a mixture of in-house production, Bernama news resources and commercial broadcasting arrangements. In its early distribution period, Bernama bulletins appeared across several Astro services, including Astro Ria, Astro Prima, Astro AEC, Astro Wah Lai Toi and Astro Vaanavil, before the bulletins were consolidated within Astro's network arrangements. The channel is also available through Malaysian television platforms including MYTV, Astro and Unifi TV. Its digital and streaming reach expanded through a 2018 partnership with iflix, while a 2019 cooperation with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission supported communications-related activities. The channel has covered major Malaysian events such as the Lahad Datu standoff, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad controversy and the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riot. Its role is consequently broader than that of a conventional commercial news station: it combines continuous or scheduled news output with government- and nation-focused reporting, public-affairs discussion and multilingual information services. At the same time, it carries some commercial advertising, giving it a hybrid operating model alongside its relationship with a government news agency. Bernama TV experienced serious financial and organisational difficulties after launch. By 2009, reported accumulated losses had exceeded RM15 million, prompting consideration of restructuring and possible buyers. In 2011, its news management was placed under the Information Ministry, and in 2015 the Ministry of Finance provided an allocation that enabled the operation to resume and refurbish technical equipment. The channel underwent a prominent rebrand as Bernama News Channel, or BNC, on 25 May 2016. That identity was subsequently withdrawn, and the service returned to the Bernama TV name and earlier branding in October 2019. Around the same period, staff were offered contracts through Gem Bytes Sdn Bhd, according to the channel's historical account. Technically and editorially, the network continued to develop its accessibility and distribution. In January 2021 it became the second Malaysian television station after RTM to use a sign-language interpreter in news broadcasts. On 8 October 2021 it switched to high-definition broadcasting. Bernama TV also reported substantial social-media viewership, reaching 73 million views or viewership engagements in 2021 and 78 million by May 2022, although the available reference does not specify the precise measurement methodology. The channel remains a Malaysian news and current-affairs brand distributed through broadcast, pay-TV and digital platforms.
History
Bernama's interest in operating a television channel dates to 1996, when an initial proposal was rejected. Instead, the government encouraged the agency to produce video news material in a model comparable to international news suppliers such as Reuters. The idea of a dedicated channel was later revived, and a proposal was put before the Malaysian cabinet before Bernama TV began broadcasting on 28 February 2008. The service was established as a free-to-air Malaysian news network, while also using pay-television and other distribution arrangements. Its output centred on Malay-language news but included coverage and programmes in English, Mandarin and Tamil. The editorial range covered national and international news, business, politics, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and weather, supplemented by religious and informative programmes, documentaries and special broadcasts. The channel developed discussion formats including Ruang Bicara in Malay and The Nation and The Brief in English. Bernama TV's early bulletins were carried on multiple Astro channels, including Astro Ria, Astro Prima, Astro AEC, Astro Wah Lai Toi and Astro Vaanavil. These arrangements were later integrated into a single Astro network presentation. The channel also maintained a commercial element through advertising, despite its close institutional connection to Bernama and the public-information system. Financial pressure became a defining feature of the channel's early history. In 2009, accumulated losses were reported at more than RM15 million. Bernama considered a restructuring plan and sought possible buyers, raising uncertainty about the service's future. In 2011, its news management was placed under the Information Ministry. In 2015, a Ministry of Finance allocation supported the continuation of operations and the refurbishment of technical equipment. The network attempted a new market identity in 2016, changing its name to Bernama News Channel, commonly shortened to BNC, on 25 May. The BNC branding was not permanent: the original Bernama TV name and logo returned in October 2019. A historical account also records that staff were offered contracts through Gem Bytes Sdn Bhd on 14 October 2019. During the period of the BNC identity, the service broadened its distribution. It partnered with iflix in 2018 so that Bernama news telecasts could be viewed on the streaming platform, and in 2019 it worked with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission on communications activities. Bernama TV's reporting profile was shaped by coverage of significant Malaysian events, including the Lahad Datu standoff, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riot. The channel also experienced a serious loss when camera operator Noramfaizul Mohd Nor was killed on 2 September 2011 while covering a humanitarian mission in Somalia. He was identified as the first Malaysian journalist killed while working on an overseas assignment. In the 2020s, the network continued to combine conventional television with digital reach and accessibility initiatives. It introduced sign-language interpretation for news broadcasts in January 2021, following RTM as the second Malaysian television station to do so. On 8 October 2021 it moved to HD broadcasting. Bernama TV reported 73 million in social-media viewership in 2021 and 78 million by May 2022. Its listed distribution has included MYTV Channel 121, Astro Channel 502 and Unifi TV Channel 631. The available historical material does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, current executive roster or a fully detailed ownership agreement.
- 2021
Sign-language interpretation added
[1]The channel began using sign-language interpreters in news broadcasts.
- 2021
HD broadcasting begins
[1]Bernama TV switched to high-definition broadcasting on 8 October.
- 2019
Return to the Bernama TV name
[1]The network reverted from the BNC identity to Bernama TV and restored its earlier branding in October.
- 2018
Streaming partnership with iflix
[1]Bernama news telecasts became available through an iflix partnership.
- 2016
Rebrand to Bernama News Channel
[1]Bernama TV adopted the Bernama News Channel, or BNC, identity on 25 May.
- 2015
Technical refurbishment receives public funding
[1]A Ministry of Finance allocation supported renewed operations and technical-equipment refurbishment.
- 2011
News management comes under the Information Ministry
[1]The channel's news management was placed under the Information Ministry.
- 2009
Financial crisis prompts restructuring discussions
[1]Accumulated losses reportedly exceeded RM15 million, leading to restructuring discussions and a search for possible buyers.
- 2008
Bernama TV begins broadcasting
[1]The network launched its regular television service on 28 February 2008.
- 1996
Initial television proposal rejected
[1]Bernama sought to operate its own television channel, but the proposal was rejected; the agency was instead encouraged to produce video news items.
Products and positioning
A Malaysian national-news and current-affairs broadcaster combining Bernama's news-gathering resources with multilingual television, public-information programming and distribution across terrestrial, pay-TV and digital platforms.
Television news · 2008
Bernama TV news bulletins
The network's core offering is scheduled news coverage focused on Malaysia and international developments. Malay is the principal broadcast language, with additional English, Mandarin and Tamil bulletins. Coverage is supported by Bernama's national news-gathering role and is distributed through television and digital channels.
Current affairs discussion
Ruang Bicara
Ruang Bicara is a Malay-language flagship discussion programme associated with Bernama TV. It represents the channel's emphasis on interviews, public affairs and analysis alongside conventional news bulletins.
English-language current affairs
The Nation
The Nation is an English-language programme cited among Bernama TV's principal in-house offerings. It extends the channel's current-affairs and international-news coverage to English-speaking audiences.
English-language news
The Brief
The Brief is an English-medium Bernama TV programme that complements the network's Malay-language core with concise news and current-affairs coverage.
Brand decisions
2021
Migration to HD broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
The channel continued upgrading its technical delivery after earlier equipment refurbishment.
Action taken
Bernama TV switched to high-definition broadcasting from 8 October 2021.
Aftermath
The change improved the technical format of the channel's television distribution.
2016
Rebrand as Bernama News ChannelStrategyBackground
The network sought a refreshed identity for its news television operation.
Action taken
Bernama TV was rebranded as Bernama News Channel, or BNC, on 25 May 2016.
Aftermath
The network later returned to the Bernama TV name and logo in October 2019.
2009
Restructuring considered after accumulated lossesStrategyBackground
Bernama TV faced reported accumulated losses of more than RM15 million and the possibility of ceasing operations.
Action taken
Bernama pursued a restructuring plan and looked for potential buyers interested in acquiring the channel.
Aftermath
The service continued, later receiving organisational oversight changes and public funding for technical refurbishment.
Accumulated losses. More than RM15 million accumulated losses reported (2009)
Sources2 sources
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