All free-to-air TV stations that do not have broadcasting rights for major sporting events that has the nation’s interest, will be able to share the contents obtained by the rights holder.

Information Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said the move was to enable all sporting events that involve the interest of the country, to receive wide coverage so that all Malaysians can watch such action, instead of being monopolised by the rights holder.

“Sports that have a mass appeal like the Olympics, badminton, football and other major sporting events would not be allowed to be monopolised by any one station but such broadcast contents must be shared,” he told reporters after launching ‘RTM Mobile’ in conjunction with RTM’s 66th anniversary at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Tanjung Malim today.

 

He added that if a specific sporting event was aired by a free-to-air TV station, the contents would be shared by pay TV stations.

The initiative would be carried out through the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and aimed to enable more Malaysians to view popular sporting activities that involves Malaysians, he said.

Rais said TV stations can choose what event they would like to broadcast and request for such programmes accordingly from the station that holds the rights.

Among the sporting events that falls under the sharing programme are the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Sea Games, Sukma, Thomas & Uber, All England, BWF Super Series, AFC Asian Cup, Asean Football Federation Cup, FIFA World Cup (semifinals and final) and English Premier League (finals).

The sporting events listed were chosen since they can function as a tool to enhance integration and unity in the spirit of 1Malaysia, he said.

For more information people can surf the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission website www.skmm.gov.my .

   

- Bernama