Free digital TV service for Malaysians from 2016

Malaysians will get to enjoy free digital television broadcast from the beginning of 2016 through the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) service, the media reported on Tuesday.

The service will be managed by state-run MYTV Broadcasting, The Malaysian Star reported.

MYTV Chief Operating Officer Mohamed Redzwan Yahya said that to be able to get the service, consumers would have to get a decoder or 'Top Box' set or the iDTV, which had the 'DTTB Receiver Consumer Label' issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

"The presence of this label will ensure the devices bought by consumers are able to receive the DTTB service," he said.

MYTV, as the DTTB provider in Malaysia, also has exclusive rights on the sale and distribution of DTTB decoders in the country.

Mohamed Redzwan said the first phase of the DTTB service could be enjoyed by about 85% of residents in the country and would increase to 98 percent by end of 2016.

He said two million sets of decoders would be distributed free to eligible households.

Consumers only need to connect the decoder to the portable indoor antenna, which is included in the decoder package, or to the existing fixed rooftop to enjoy the DTTB service, he added.