CYBERJAYA: Pay television companies that have delayed providing services will risk losing their licences.
“We realise some of these companies have limited capabilities (to run such a business) and some have yet to get it off the ground.
“If they are unable to do so, there are other interested and capable parties that can deliver if given the licence,” said Information, Commu nications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
He said that the Malaysian Commu nications and Multimedia Commis -sion had awarded pay television licences to seven companies over the past three years but some had yet to start operations.
“We will start reviewing the companies’ position with the view to revoking their licence.
“This process will start in the next two months but we will give these companies ample notice should we decide to take back their licences,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after presenting three licences under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to Measat Broadcasting Net work Sdn Bhd or Astro.
Dr Rais declined to name the seven pay television companies, but stressed that the list did not include Astro, which he described as a key and positive player in the country’s broadcasting industry.
Meanwhile, Astro chairman Datuk Badri Masri said the company had invested RM5bil to develop broadcasting infrastructure and information technology, adding that Astro’s social obligations include providing quality learning content.
“Since 2006, through Astro Scholar ship, we have helped 32 students further their education in broadcasting, communications and multimedia. We have so far spent RM8mil for this purpose,” he said.
“We realise some of these companies have limited capabilities (to run such a business) and some have yet to get it off the ground.
“If they are unable to do so, there are other interested and capable parties that can deliver if given the licence,” said Information, Commu nications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
He said that the Malaysian Commu nications and Multimedia Commis -sion had awarded pay television licences to seven companies over the past three years but some had yet to start operations.
“We will start reviewing the companies’ position with the view to revoking their licence.
“This process will start in the next two months but we will give these companies ample notice should we decide to take back their licences,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after presenting three licences under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to Measat Broadcasting Net work Sdn Bhd or Astro.
Dr Rais declined to name the seven pay television companies, but stressed that the list did not include Astro, which he described as a key and positive player in the country’s broadcasting industry.
Meanwhile, Astro chairman Datuk Badri Masri said the company had invested RM5bil to develop broadcasting infrastructure and information technology, adding that Astro’s social obligations include providing quality learning content.
“Since 2006, through Astro Scholar ship, we have helped 32 students further their education in broadcasting, communications and multimedia. We have so far spent RM8mil for this purpose,” he said.