Six bidders for Malaysia digital TV broadcasting deal
July 24, 2012
At least six companies are expected to submit their business plans to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to bid for the rights to be the common integrated infrastructure provider (CIIP) for the rolling out of digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB).
The entire cost of the project, including the cost of subsidising set-top boxes, is expected to be around RM900 million (RM600 million rollout and RM300 million set-top box).
“There was talk that the entire project could cost about RM2 billion, but based on our estimation, we believe the cost (excluding set-top box) could potentially be much lower, perhaps in the range of RM500 million to RM700 million,” said an industry source familiar with the digital broadcasting industry.
Based on the market talk, companies that have expressed interest in the DTTB job include: Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Astro (Usaha Tegas), Sapura, Celcom Axiata Bhd, Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd and KUB Malaysia Bhd, with Maxis Bhd, REDtone International Bhd and YTL Group also believed to be keen in the job as well.
The winner of the tender will build and operate the digital TV broadcast infrastructure for DTTB services so that all broadcasters such as RTM, Media Prima Bhd, Hijrah TV and others can ride on the infrastructure to transmit their TV programmes, radio and other online contents.
The winner of the tender will build and operate the digital TV broadcast infrastructure for DTTB services so that all broadcasters such as RTM, Media Prima Bhd, Hijrah TV and others can ride on the infrastructure to transmit their TV programmes, radio and other online contents.