U Television
Former Malaysian pay-television operator and channel brand, originally known as MiTV.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
U Television was the former branding of Ansat Broadcast Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian pay-television operator that entered the market in 2005 under the name MiTV, an abbreviation of Malaysian Interactive Television. It was established as the country’s third pay-TV operator and was positioned as an alternative to Astro’s dominant position in Malaysian subscription television. The service launched on 5 September 2005 after receiving the necessary approvals for its broadcast content from Malaysia’s censorship authorities. Its launch was conducted by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Manhattan Ballroom of the Berjaya Times Square Hotel and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur. At launch, MiTV offered 41 channels supplied by content providers from around the world, including channels that were new to Malaysian viewers. Before the commercial launch, the company repeatedly revised its expected timetable. Plans that had initially pointed to a December launch were moved to October and later to the second quarter of 2005. In August 2004, MiTV also reached an agreement to carry Channel NewsAsia, illustrating its effort to assemble a recognizable international channel package before entering the market. The operator’s principal technical distinction was its use of an Internet Protocol over UHF-based transmission system. Unlike satellite television services that require a dish, subscribers used a standard UHF television antenna to receive the service. The company promoted this approach as giving it an operational advantage during bad weather, when satellite reception can be affected. The platform therefore represented an effort to combine pay-TV programming with a terrestrial distribution method rather than relying on conventional satellite delivery. MiTV was associated with the Berjaya business group and was largely owned by Tan Sri Vincent Tan, who was president of Berjaya Group. Ansat Broadcast also owned U Mobile, a Malaysian mobile telecommunications operator. This relationship created a potential basis for extending television distribution beyond the home, although the main MiTV service remained a fixed television offering. The company’s financial and operating difficulties became public in 2006. On 31 October that year, Ansat Broadcast announced a restructuring that suspended marketing and new subscription activities. Approximately 66 percent of the workforce was retrenched as part of the restructuring. The decision effectively curtailed the service’s expansion only about a year after its launch and is the central turning point in the brand’s short history. A later mobile television initiative was explored through the U Mobile network. In June 2007, Nokia and MiTV announced plans for a DVB-H mobile television service targeted for the second half of that year. The proposed Mobile LiveTV offering used a Nokia N77 handset and included seven channels in a package described as the Friendly User Program. The mobile service was reportedly discontinued in February 2009. U Television is therefore primarily remembered as an early Malaysian challenger in pay television, notable for its UHF-based IP distribution model, broad initial channel package, association with Berjaya and U Mobile, and unsuccessful attempt to establish a sustainable alternative to the incumbent satellite platform.
History
U Television was the former name of Ansat Broadcast Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian pay-television company that entered the market as MiTV, short for Malaysian Interactive Television. The business was conceived as a challenger to Astro, whose satellite service dominated Malaysian pay television. MiTV’s launch schedule changed several times. A launch originally anticipated for December was subsequently moved to October and then to the second quarter of 2005. The company worked to secure recognizable programming before entering the market. In August 2004 it signed an agreement to carry Channel NewsAsia. MiTV eventually launched on 5 September 2005 at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The launch was officiated by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The initial service carried 41 channels from international content providers, including a number of channels that were new to the Malaysian market. MiTV’s distribution system was one of its most distinctive features. It used Internet Protocol over UHF-based transmission, allowing subscribers to receive broadcasts through a standard UHF television antenna rather than a satellite dish. The company presented the terrestrial approach as less vulnerable to reception problems during inclement weather. This technology gave MiTV a different operating model from the established satellite-based service and was central to its attempt to compete in the Malaysian market. Ansat Broadcast was largely owned by Tan Sri Vincent Tan, the president of Berjaya Group. The company also owned U Mobile, a mobile telecommunications operator. The connection between the television and mobile businesses later supported an attempt to extend the company’s media proposition to handheld devices. The expansion effort was short-lived. On 31 October 2006, Ansat Broadcast announced a restructuring that included the suspension of marketing and new subscription activities. Approximately 66 percent of the workforce was retrenched. The announcement marked a major contraction only around one year after the pay-TV service had launched and substantially limited MiTV’s ability to build a larger subscriber base. In June 2007, MiTV and Nokia planned a DVB-H mobile television service over the U Mobile network. The proposed Mobile LiveTV package was intended to offer seven channels through a Friendly User Program and was to be demonstrated on the Nokia N77. The service was reportedly shut down in February 2009. The brand’s history consequently consists of an ambitious market entry, an innovative but difficult alternative distribution system, an early restructuring and a brief extension into mobile television. Ansat Broadcast’s former U Television/MiTV operation is no longer an active Malaysian pay-TV brand.
- 2009
Mobile LiveTV reportedly ends
[1]The associated Mobile LiveTV service was reportedly discontinued in February.
- 2007
DVB-H mobile television plan
[1]MiTV and Nokia planned Mobile LiveTV through the U Mobile network, using DVB-H technology and a seven-channel package.
- 2006
Restructuring and workforce reduction
[1]Ansat Broadcast suspended marketing and new subscription activities and retrenched approximately 66 percent of its workforce.
- 2005
MiTV officially launches
[1]MiTV launched on 5 September with 41 channels and became Malaysia’s third pay-television operator.
- 2004
ChannelNewsAsia carriage agreement
[1]MiTV signed an agreement to carry Channel NewsAsia as it prepared to enter Malaysia’s pay-TV market.
Products and positioning
A Malaysian pay-TV challenger designed to compete with Astro through an alternative UHF-based IP transmission model, a broad international channel line-up and later mobile-TV experimentation.
Pay television · 2005
MiTV pay-television service
The core U Television predecessor was a Malaysian subscription television platform launched in 2005. It initially offered 41 channels from content providers around the world, including channels not previously available to many Malaysian viewers. Rather than using a satellite dish, subscribers received the service through a UHF antenna under the company’s Internet Protocol over UHF transmission model. The service was designed to challenge Astro but had its marketing and new-subscription activities suspended during the 2006 restructuring.
Mobile television · 2007
Mobile LiveTV
Mobile LiveTV was a planned DVB-H television service developed by MiTV and Nokia for distribution through the U Mobile network. The proposed package contained seven channels and was associated with a Friendly User Program using the Nokia N77 handset. It represented an attempt to extend the company’s television proposition from the home to mobile devices. The service was reportedly shut down in February 2009.
Brand decisions
2007
Plan DVB-H mobile televisionProduct launchBackground
Ansat Broadcast was also connected to U Mobile, creating an opportunity to distribute television content over a mobile network.
Action taken
MiTV and Nokia planned a seven-channel Mobile LiveTV package using DVB-H technology and the U Mobile network.
Aftermath
The service was reportedly discontinued in February 2009.
2006
Suspend marketing and new subscription activityStrategyBackground
Ansat Broadcast faced difficulties expanding the MiTV pay-TV operation after its 2005 launch.
Action taken
The company announced a restructuring on 31 October that suspended marketing and new subscription activities and included retrenchment of approximately 66 percent of the workforce.
Aftermath
The restructuring sharply curtailed the service’s expansion and preceded the eventual disappearance of the MiTV/U Television pay-TV operation.
Recent events
Xiaomi partners with Chaupal for Mi TV content[2]
Reported:
Xiaomi announced a partnership with the Chaupal OTT platform to expand Mi TV's content library for Punjabi, Haryanvi, and Bhojpuri users, including exclusive early access for Mi TV users.
Xiaomi launches 82-inch Mi TV Master Extreme Commemorative Edition[3]
Reported:
Xiaomi officially launched the 82-inch Mi TV Master Extreme Commemorative Edition, featuring an 8K 120Hz display. The article says it was priced at 49,999 yuan and would go on sale across channels on October 21.
Xiaomi announces PatchWall 3.0 update[4]
Reported:
Xiaomi India announced PatchWall 3.0, an update for Mi TVs with new content integrations, partners, and user-interface enhancements. The update was scheduled to roll out to specified Mi TV models starting April 6, 2020.
Xiaomi announces earthquake alerts for MIUI users in China[5]
Reported:
Xiaomi said it was integrating an earthquake warning function into MIUI for select users in China and had activated the feature in Sichuan, with plans to expand it elsewhere in the country.
Xiaomi unveils Mi TV 5 series[6]
Reported:
Xiaomi formally launched its Mi TV 5 series, comprising the Mi TV 5 Pro and Mi TV 5 models in 55-, 65- and 75-inch sizes.
ShemarooMe partners with Patchwall on Mi TV[7]
Reported:
Shemaroo Entertainment Limited announced the integration of its ShemarooMe OTT video streaming platform with Patchwall on Mi TV, giving Mi TV customers in India access to ShemarooMe’s content library.
Sources11 sources
- 1U Televisionen.wikipedia.org
- 2小米与 Chaupal 合作向 Mi TV 用户提供内容indiantelevision.com
- 3小米电视“大师”82寸至尊纪念版发布finance.sina.com.cn
- 4小米宣布推出 PatchWall 3.0 更新technuter.com
- 5小米宣布为中国 MIUI 用户集成地震预警techcrunch.com
- 6小米正式发布小米电视 5 系列finance.sina.com.cn
- 7ShemarooMe与Patchwall在Mi TV上合作deccanchronicle.com
- 8Xiaomi launches Mi 5X TV series in India; check specifications price and discount offers herethedailyjagran.com
- 9Xiaomi launches Mi TV 4A Horizon Edition series, price starts at ₹13,499livemint.com
- 10Xiaomi rolls out PatchWall 3.0 for Mi TV usersthehindubusinessline.com
- 11Xiaomi rolls out PatchWall 3.0 for Mi TV users in India: What’s new?indianexpress.com
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