| Formerly | MiTV |
|---|---|
| Founded | 5 September 2005; 20 years ago (2005-09-05) |
| Owner | Berjaya Media Berhad |
Ansat Broadcast Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as U Television, with MiTV being an abbreviation of its former name, Malaysian Interactive Television) isMalaysia's third paytelevision operator. It was launched on 5 September 2005,[1] after having obtained all the necessary approvals from the censorship board on its broadcast contents. The company initially offered 41channels from content providers worldwide, with many of them new to the Malaysian market.[2]
Set to end Astro's monopoly in the Malaysian pay TV market,[2] MiTV originally planned to launch in December in June 2004,[3] moving to October in July[4] and the second quarter of 2005 in January 2005.[5]
In August 2004, MiTV signed a deal to carryChannel News Asia in its platform.[2]
In January 2005, MiTV planned to be listed in the Main Board ofBursa Malaysia.[5]
MiTV was officially launched on 5 September 2005 byMalaysian Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi, at the Manhattan Ballroom in Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Centre inKuala Lumpur.
One of Ansat Broadcast's distinguishing traits is that it uses anInternet Protocol overUHF-based transmission system. Subscribers are required to install a standardUHF televisionantenna as opposed to asatellite dish to receive broadcasts. Ansat Broadcast is therefore able to broadcast even during inclement weather.
Ansat Broadcast is largely owned byTan SriVincent Tan, the president of theBerjaya Group.
On 31 October 2006, the company announced a restructuring that included suspension of all marketing and new subscription activities. In addition, approximately 66% of the companies workforce was retrenched.[6]
Ansat Broadcast also owns a mobile phone operator calledU Mobile.
In June 2007,Nokia and MiTV planned to launchDVB-H in "the second half of 2007" through the U Mobile network using aNokia N77.[7] Known as Mobile LiveTV, it carried seven channels in a package called Friendly User Program. The service was reportedly shut down in February 2009.[8]
