TV Okey

TV Okey is a Malaysian free-to-air television channel operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the country's public broadcaster. The channel was launched on 21 March 2018 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and was designed to provide programming with a particular connection to East Malaysia while also appealing to younger, urban viewers. Its name is stylised as OKeY and is described as an acronym for Opportunity, Knowledge, Experience and Yours. The channel's programming identity reflects this intended combination of public-service broadcasting, regional representation, youth-oriented content and accessible entertainment. TV Okey broadcasts in Malay and English as well as several languages associated with East Malaysia, including Bajau, Dusun, Kadazan and Iban. This multilingual approach distinguishes it from a purely national general-interest channel and gives it a role in representing the cultural and linguistic diversity of Sabah and Sarawak. Its remit also connects with earlier RTM efforts to provide dedicated or experimental services for East Malaysian audiences. Historically, RTM operated Televisyen Malaysia Rangkaian Ketiga, or Television Malaysia's Third Network, which incorporated the operations of Sabah TV after that service had been run by Sabah's state government from 1970 to 1975. The third network later ceased operations in 1984. Before TV Okey was established, RTM used several test and specialist services during the development of digital terrestrial television broadcasting. Between 2006 and 2018, these included RTMi, RTM Muzik Aktif and TVi. RTMi carried programme previews from RTM1 and RTM2; RTM Muzik Aktif focused on Malaysian music and music-related programmes; and TVi promoted East Malaysian culture. RTM also considered more focused television services for Sabah and Sarawak during the early 2010s, although those plans were not initially realised as separate channels. TV Okey ultimately became RTM's principal channel associated with this regional and youth-oriented positioning. The channel was formally launched at the Hilton Hotel in Kota Kinabalu on the evening of 21 March 2018. It was officiated by Malaysia's then prime minister, Najib Razak. On 1 April 2019, TV Okey began high-definition broadcasting as part of RTM's 73rd-anniversary activities. At that stage, the HD service was offered through Malaysia's myFreeview digital terrestrial television platform on channel 110. The move placed TV Okey within Malaysia's transition from conventional terrestrial broadcasting toward digital distribution and improved picture quality for viewers using compatible receivers. TV Okey also assumed an educational role during the COVID-19 period. Beginning on 6 April 2020, it carried TV Pendidikan programming each day under the Kelas@Rumah, or Class@Home, strand. This marked the return of TV Pendidikan content to RTM after a gap of approximately two decades and allowed the channel to support home-based learning while schools were affected by pandemic restrictions. As a broadcast channel rather than a consumer-goods brand, TV Okey's principal offerings are its scheduled television services, including general programming, regional and cultural content, music, youth-oriented formats and educational broadcasts. Its principal distribution model is free-to-air television in Malaysia, with digital terrestrial carriage forming an important part of its modern platform. TV Okey is best understood as a public-service media sub-brand within RTM: its value lies in national coverage combined with regional visibility, multilingual access and programming intended to connect with younger audiences. The available reference material does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, commercial listing, independent ownership structure or named executive leadership for the channel.

TV Okey emerged from Radio Televisyen Malaysia's longer history of experimenting with specialist, regional and digitally distributed television services. RTM had previously operated Televisyen Malaysia Rangkaian Ketiga, known in English as Television Malaysia's Third Network. That service absorbed the operations of Sabah TV, which had been run by the Sabah state government from 1970 to 1975, and later extended its broadcasts to Sarawak. Rangkaian Ketiga was eventually dissolved in 1984. The concept of a dedicated East Malaysian television service returned during RTM's digital terrestrial television experiments. Between 2006 and 2018, RTM introduced three test or specialist channels: RTMi, RTM Muzik Aktif and TVi. RTMi presented previews of RTM1 and RTM2 programmes for a limited daily period. RTM Muzik Aktif focused on mainstream and independent Malaysian music together with music-based programmes. TVi, whose name referred to TV Interaktif or TV Interactive, promoted East Malaysian culture. RTM also considered separate services for Sabah and Sarawak during the early 2010s, but those proposals did not initially result in dedicated channels. In Sarawak, a later state-oriented television initiative was undertaken by Sarawak Media Group, which launched TVS in 2020. TV Okey was launched on 21 March 2018 at the Hilton Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The launch was officiated by the then prime minister, Najib Razak. The channel was conceived as an RTM service for East Malaysians and urban youth, giving it a more specific audience proposition than a general national channel. Its programming languages include Malay and English, alongside East Malaysian languages such as Bajau, Dusun, Kadazan and Iban. The name is stylised as OKeY and has been explained as an acronym for Opportunity, Knowledge, Experience and Yours. A major technical milestone followed on 1 April 2019, when TV Okey began high-definition transmission in connection with RTM's 73rd anniversary. The HD service was distributed through the myFreeview digital terrestrial television platform on channel 110. This placed the channel within Malaysia's broader migration toward digital terrestrial broadcasting and expanded the technical quality of its free-to-air service. TV Okey gained an additional public-service function in 2020. From 6 April, it broadcast TV Pendidikan content every day through the Kelas@Rumah, or Class@Home, programming strand. The initiative marked the return of TV Pendidikan to RTM after about twenty years and was particularly relevant during the COVID-19 disruption to conventional classroom education. It demonstrated that the channel could be used not only for regional representation and youth-oriented programming, but also for national educational communication. TV Okey remains an RTM television channel rather than an independently listed or separately incorporated media company. The available reference material does not identify a separate headquarters, independent owner, commercial financial results or a named executive team for the channel. Its institutional identity is therefore tied to RTM, while its editorial and audience identity is associated with East Malaysian cultures, multilingual broadcasting, younger viewers and free-to-air public-service television.

• 2020

  Kelas@Rumah begins on TV Okey

  [1]TV Okeyen.wikipedia.org

  TV Okey began daily TV Pendidikan broadcasts under the Kelas@Rumah strand on 6 April.

• 2019

  HD service launches on myFreeview

  [1]TV Okeyen.wikipedia.org

  The channel began HD broadcasting on 1 April and was carried by myFreeview digital terrestrial television on channel 110.

• 2018

  TV Okey launches

  [1]TV Okeyen.wikipedia.org

  TV Okey was launched in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on 21 March as an RTM channel serving East Malaysian audiences and urban youth.

• 2006

  RTM begins specialist-channel trials

  [1]TV Okeyen.wikipedia.org

  RTM introduced test and specialist services including RTMi, RTM Muzik Aktif and TVi as part of digital terrestrial television trials.

• 1984

  Rangkaian Ketiga is dissolved

  [1]TV Okeyen.wikipedia.org

  RTM's Televisyen Malaysia Rangkaian Ketiga, a predecessor associated with East Malaysian broadcasting, ceased operations.

• 1970

  Sabah TV begins operating under the Sabah state government

  [1]TV Okeyen.wikipedia.org

  Sabah TV operated as a state-government service during the period from 1970 to 1975 before its operations were later incorporated into RTM's Rangkaian Ketiga.

A public-service television channel combining Malaysian national broadcasting with East Malaysian cultural representation, multilingual content and programming aimed at urban youth.

• Free-to-air television channel · 2018

  TV Okey general channel

  The core TV Okey service is a Malaysian free-to-air television channel operated by RTM. It combines general programming with a stated emphasis on East Malaysian audiences and urban youth. Its schedule includes content in Malay and English and may use East Malaysian languages including Bajau, Dusun, Kadazan and Iban. The channel is positioned as a public-service media outlet rather than an independently owned commercial network.

• High-definition television service · 2019

  TV Okey HD

  TV Okey's high-definition service began in April 2019 as part of RTM's anniversary-related broadcasting activities. It was distributed through Malaysia's myFreeview digital terrestrial television platform on channel 110, linking the channel's regional programming remit with the country's digital terrestrial television infrastructure.

• Educational television programming · 2020

  Kelas@Rumah

  Kelas@Rumah, translated as Class@Home, is the TV Okey programming strand used to carry TV Pendidikan content. It began daily broadcasts on 6 April 2020 during the COVID-19 period, providing televised educational material for home-based learning and marking TV Pendidikan's return to RTM after approximately two decades.

• 2020

  Addition of Kelas@Rumah educational broadcastsStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 period increased the need for educational content that could reach students at home when normal classroom arrangements were disrupted.

  Action taken

  TV Okey began airing TV Pendidikan programming daily through the Kelas@Rumah strand from 6 April 2020.

  Aftermath

  TV Okey took on an expanded public-service role and helped return TV Pendidikan content to RTM after approximately twenty years.

  Source

• 2019

  Transition to high-definition digital terrestrial broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  Malaysia was developing digital terrestrial television distribution through the myFreeview platform, while RTM was marking its 73rd anniversary.

  Action taken

  TV Okey began HD broadcasting on 1 April 2019 and was made available on myFreeview channel 110.

  Aftermath

  The channel became available in higher-definition format through Malaysia's digital terrestrial television service.

  Source

• 2018

  Launch of TV OkeyProduct launch

  Background

  RTM had previously tested specialist and regional services, including TVi, but did not initially establish separate permanent channels for Sabah and Sarawak. TV Okey was introduced to serve East Malaysian audiences and urban youth through a dedicated RTM channel.

  Action taken

  RTM launched TV Okey in Kota Kinabalu on 21 March 2018, with programming in Malay, English and selected East Malaysian languages.

  Aftermath

  The launch created a permanent RTM channel with a regional and youth-oriented identity.

  Source

1. 1TV Okeyen.wikipedia.org