The government is to take over the administration of Bernama TV on June 1, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said today.

He said the concessionaire had agreed to hand over the administration of  Bernama TV to the ministry after admitting that it could not afford to continue the service.

“We will disclose details when the ministry begins the new administration,” Rais told reporters after opening a conference on opportunities for small and medium industries via the ICT broadband in Cyberjaya.

It is understood that the TV station stopped coverage of events in Sabah and Sarawak several months ago to concentrate on the Klang Valley.

Sixty-seven percent of BTV Synergy Sdn Bhd shares are held by Silver Ridge Bhd and the rest by Bernama, the national news agency, under an agreement signed in 2008.

Silver Ridge faced financial problems and handed over the administration of the Bernama TV newsroom to Redberry Sdn Bhd.

- Bernama