TV1

TV1 is a Malaysian public free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the broadcasting department of the Malaysian Government. It is the first television service established in Malaysia and remains one of the country's traditional terrestrial channels. The service began broadcasting on 28 December 1963 as Televisyen Malaysia, initially serving Kuala Lumpur and nearby parts of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Its launch formed part of the Malaysian government's effort to develop a national television system using a combination of studio facilities, transmitters and microwave links. The opening ceremony was led by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, although the service initially operated with limited studio, recording and outside-broadcasting capacity. During its first years, TV1 was a single-channel national service with a relatively short evening schedule. Transmission expanded progressively beyond the capital to locations including Ipoh, Malacca, Penang and Johor, while relay and transmitter development extended reception across Peninsular Malaysia. The service became a regular operation in July 1964 after a pilot period. Early programming included news in several languages, public information, entertainment and educational material. An educational television initiative launched in 1965 later developed into the TV Pendidikan concept. TV1 also served as an important instrument of national communication at a time when television ownership was still developing and broadcast infrastructure was limited. The launch of a second RTM television network in 1969 changed the channel's institutional identity. Televisyen Malaysia was merged with Radio Malaysia to form Radio Televisyen Malaysia, and the original service became the First Network, later associated with the names RTM1 and TV1. Over subsequent decades, its terrestrial reach was extended to additional parts of the peninsula and, eventually, Sabah and Sarawak. Colour broadcasts began in Peninsular Malaysia in December 1978 and reached East Malaysia in 1980. By the late 1970s and 1980s, TV1 had become a core national broadcasting outlet, particularly important to rural audiences. TV1's programming and editorial role have changed in response to government language policy, competition and audience habits. In the late 1980s, the channel increased Malay-language output and progressively transferred English-language news and programmes to TV2. Its schedule also incorporated more public-affairs, religious, educational and informational content, while entertainment, films and imported programmes were used at various periods to compete with commercial broadcaster TV3. The channel introduced daytime programming in 1994, including children's, cooking, business, documentary and news content, after many years in which its principal schedule was concentrated in the evening. It experimented with round-the-clock transmission in 2005 and began continuous 24-hour broadcasting in 2012. The channel has undergone several naming and visual-identity changes. It was branded RTM1 from 2006 and returned to the TV1 name in 2009 alongside a new logo. In April 2019, TV1 began high-definition broadcasting through Malaysia's myFreeview digital terrestrial television platform. Today, TV1 is positioned as a public-service channel combining national and regional news, current affairs, information, cultural and religious programming, educational content, entertainment and special-event coverage. Unlike a commercial brand, it operates within RTM's public broadcasting structure and is principally defined by national reach, government-supported service obligations and its long institutional history.

Plans for television in Malaya developed in the early 1960s. Officials considered using the existing microwave-transmitter network for television distribution, with Kuala Lumpur selected as the location for the first station. The initial service was designed to cover Kuala Lumpur and nearby areas before being expanded nationally. Canadian television specialists assisted with construction, while equipment contracts included a transmitter and film facilities supplied by Pye. The project was planned as a one-channel service, with the intention of extending reception throughout Malaya after launch. Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman announced that Televisyen Malaysia would begin on 28 December 1963. The opening broadcast consisted of a short ceremony and address, but the station lacked some facilities expected of a mature broadcaster, including a fully available outside-broadcasting van and complete video-recording infrastructure. It initially transmitted from Kuala Lumpur on channel 10 and moved to channel 5 in May 1964. The pilot service expanded to other parts of the peninsula during 1964, including Ipoh, Malacca, Penang and Johor. It became a regular service on 6 July 1964, with longer daily hours and scheduled news bulletins in Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil. Further transmitter development continued through the second half of the 1960s. The Gunong Pulai transmitter enabled reception in Singapore through signal overspill, while plans were developed for coverage of the east coast and East Malaysia. An educational television pilot began in 1965 and became an early foundation for televised education. The network also adjusted schedules for regional audiences, including areas where the weekend pattern differed from that of much of the country. Television reached Kuala Terengganu in 1971 and Sarawak in 1975; national coverage of Sabah and Sarawak was subsequently developed. The creation of TV2 in 1969 ended the original service's status as Malaysia's sole television channel. Televisyen Malaysia and Radio Malaysia were combined into Radio Televisyen Malaysia, and the original channel was designated the First Network. Proposals to make it exclusively Malay-language were considered but initially constrained by programme availability. During the 1970s, however, pressure grew to increase locally produced Malay programming. Colour testing began in 1978, with TV1 carrying colour programmes in Peninsular Malaysia from December that year and in Sabah and Sarawak from 1980. In the mid-1980s and late 1980s, TV1 responded to competition from TV3 by revising its schedule and adding films, foreign serials, Chinese dramas and public-affairs programming. At the same time, the network became increasingly Malay-oriented. English news and other English-language programmes were moved to TV2 from 1987, and the proportion of Malay programming was raised substantially. News scheduling was repeatedly revised during the early 1990s as RTM sought to give TV1 and TV2 more distinct editorial roles. The 1990s brought major changes to the daily schedule. From 1994, TV1 introduced full-time morning and afternoon transmission, adding children's programmes, cooking shows, documentaries, business news and international news services. It also expanded religion, information and education programming during prime time. The channel's schedule, transmission hours and branding continued to be adjusted in response to operating costs, audience expectations and competition. In 1996, TV1 began 24-hour broadcasting for the first time on a special or continuing basis connected with RTM's anniversary activities, although regular continuous service came later. TV1 and TV2 were branded RTM1 and RTM2 in 2006, then returned to their established TV1 and TV2 identities in 2009. The channel later transitioned from analogue-era terrestrial broadcasting toward digital distribution. Following earlier trials, it began 24-hour transmission in 2012. On 1 April 2019, the channel launched HDTV broadcasting through the myFreeview digital terrestrial platform. TV1 remains an active RTM service and continues to combine national news, public information, cultural and religious output, education, entertainment and live coverage of significant Malaysian events.

1. 2019HD digital terrestrial service launches

   TV1 becomes available in high definition through myFreeview digital terrestrial television.

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2. 2012Regular 24-hour transmission begins

   TV1 begins continuous 24-hour broadcasting on 21 August.

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3. 2009TV1 name and identity return

   The channel returns to the TV1 name and introduces a new logo.

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4. 2006The channel is branded RTM1

   TV1 adopts the RTM1 identity as part of RTM's anniversary branding.

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5. 1994Daytime broadcasting is introduced

   TV1 begins regular morning and afternoon transmission with educational, information, children's and news programming.

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6. 1987Malay-language programming is expanded

   The channel progressively transfers English news and programmes to TV2 and increases Malay-language output.

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7. 1978Colour broadcasting begins in Peninsular Malaysia

   TV1 starts colour broadcasting in Peninsular Malaysia in December after earlier tests.

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8. 1975Television reaches Sarawak

   Television broadcasting is extended to Sarawak on 31 August.

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9. 1969TV2 is introduced and the channel becomes the First Network

   The original service is reorganized within Radio Televisyen Malaysia after the launch of the second network.

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10. 1965Educational television pilot begins

    An educational television project launches, later contributing to the development of TV Pendidikan.

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11. 1964Pilot service becomes regular broadcasting

    The service expands to several Peninsular Malaysian locations and becomes a regular operation on 6 July.

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12. 1963Televisyen Malaysia launches

    Malaysia's first television service begins broadcasting from Kuala Lumpur on 28 December.

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Public-service television channel focused on national broadcasting, news, information, education, culture, religion and general entertainment.

• TV1Public free-to-air television channel1963

  The principal TV1 service is a national public television channel operated by RTM. Its output combines news, current affairs, public information, education, religion, culture, documentaries, entertainment and live coverage. Historically distributed through terrestrial transmitters, it now also reaches viewers through Malaysia's digital terrestrial television infrastructure and offers HDTV transmission through myFreeview.

• 2019High-definition digital terrestrial rolloutProduct launch

  Malaysia was transitioning television viewers from analogue terrestrial distribution to the myFreeview digital platform.

  What changed. TV1 launched HDTV broadcasting through myFreeview on 1 April.

  Aftermath. The channel gained a modern digital-terrestrial distribution format while retaining its public-service role.

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• 2012Adoption of regular 24-hour broadcastingGeneration change

  TV1 had conducted earlier overnight trials and RTM was adapting its services to changing viewing habits.

  What changed. The channel began continuous 24-hour transmission on 21 August.

  Aftermath. TV1 became a continuously available national public channel rather than a service concentrated mainly in daytime and evening hours.

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• 1994Expansion into full-time daytime broadcastingStrategy

  RTM sought to broaden the channel's usefulness and compete for viewers across more parts of the day.

  What changed. TV1 introduced morning and afternoon programming, including children's shows, cooking programmes, news, documentaries and business coverage.

  Aftermath. The channel moved beyond its historic evening-focused schedule and developed a more continuous daily service.

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• 1987Progressive shift toward an all-Malay serviceStrategy

  RTM faced pressure to strengthen the use of Malay as the national language while also competing with commercial television.

  What changed. English news and other English-language programmes were moved increasingly to TV2, while the proportion of Malay-language output on TV1 was raised.

  Aftermath. TV1 developed a more clearly Malay-language and national-public-service identity, while TV2 retained a larger multilingual and international role.

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• 2019TV1 launches high-definition digital terrestrial broadcasting

  TV1 began HDTV transmission on 1 April 2019 through Malaysia's myFreeview digital terrestrial television service.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2012TV1 begins 24-hour broadcasting

  After earlier trials, TV1 moved to continuous 24-hour transmission on 21 August 2012.

  Product generation
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• 1969The original network becomes RTM's First Network

  Following the introduction of TV2 and the merger of Radio Malaysia with Televisyen Malaysia, the original television service became the First Network within Radio Televisyen Malaysia.

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• 1963Televisyen Malaysia begins broadcasting

  Malaysia's first television service opened on 28 December 1963, initially operating from Kuala Lumpur as a limited single-channel public broadcaster.

  Product launch
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1. TV1 (Malaysian TV network)
2. Radio Televisyen Malaysia official website