Malaysia to cut television time

Malaysia to cut television time

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's state-owned television station
plans to reduce the air-time of its two television channels to
cut operating costs amid a decline in advertising revenues,
reports said on Sunday.

Deputy Information Minister Suleiman Mohamad said the proposal
was likely to be implemented in January next year and would
result in Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) saving 30 million
ringgit ($7.9 million) a year.

With shorter airtime, the station could cut down on slots
without sponsors or which brought in low revenue, he was quoted
as saying by the New Sunday Times.

Suleiman said the first television station, TV1, might start
broadcasts on Mondays to Thursdays at 2.30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.
Jakarta time). At present it goes air at 7 a.m.