Satellite TV Grows, but State Will Retain Some Control : Freeing Up
International Herald Tribune
July 28, 1995
Michael Richardson 

Abandoning orthodox controls adopted by many other largely Muslim countries, Malaysia plans to liberalize satellite-television broadcasts while retaining some influence over program content.

Under a regulatory framework to be established by the government this year, a ban on privately owned satellite dishes will be lifted by early next year ahead of the introduction of satellite television beamed directly to homes. But bans on pornography and on material that could disturb religious or racial harmony will remain in place.

A key element of the new system will be a network of indirect government control over the country's privately owned electronic media, analysts say, including two communication satellites and several cable and free-to-air TV channels.

This service is to be offered by the satellite operator, Binariang Bhd., a company controlled by the Malaysian entrepreneur Ananda Krishnan, a close associate of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad. The American regional telephone operator US West Inc. has a 20 percent equity stake.

After the launch of its first regional communications satellite in December, Binariang is to begin offering a TV service with 20 channels to Malaysia by April. A second satellite is scheduled to go into orbit in October 1996. The company says it is spending about 1 billion ringgit ($408 million) on Measat, the Malaysia East Asia Satellite project.

A communications industry analyst said Binariang's Measat Broadcast Network Systems unit would provide Malaysians with a large choice of channels for the first time, though Malaysian authorities will "continue to maintain tight control on programming content to ensure that it conforms to the religious and cultural values prevalent in the country."

Both U.S.-made satellites incorporate advanced technology, including high-H powered transponders that will enable subscribers to receive the encrypted signals on dishes only 50 centimeters (20 inches) in diameter.

Analysts said that while much larger private dishes could pull down programming of virtually any sort from global broadcasters, eluding any censorship, their cost would be prohibitive for most Malaysians.

Explaining Malaysia's decision to end its closed-sky policy, Anwar Ibrahim, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, said technology had "almost rendered censorship and political control of communication futile." Satellite television, he said, "can now bypass any filter except that of the individual himself."

He said new communications technology would promote democracy, empower citizens and serve as a catalyst for the growth of civil society through education and cultural enlightenment.

Mr. Anwar also said technology would "serve as an ally rather than a foe to Asian cultural renewal." As the "Asian renaissance" gains momentum, he said, Asians "will have the means to exercise greater discernment in purchasing cultural output produced elsewhere."

At present, only the prime minister of Malaysia, the minister of information and the country's nine hereditary rulers are allowed to receive satellite-TV broadcasts. In addition, hotels in the three-star and higher categories can receive the U.S.-based Cable News Network via satellite.

Mohamed Rahmat, Malaysia's information minister, said that by early 1996, there would be at least 30 TV channels available, including five cable channels and four free-to-air or terrestrial channels. Malaysia's fourth TV channel, MetroVision Channel 8, operated by City Television Bhd., began broadcasting this month.

Copyright © 2006 The International Herald Tribune