KUALA LUMPUR: After 74 years as national broadcaster, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) makes history yesterday with a dedicated 24-hour news channel focusing on current issues and comprehensive programmes.
In high definition, the RTM News Channel can be viewed on myFreeview Digital TV on channel 123.
Launching the channel at Wisma Berita, Angkasapuri yesterday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said that the RTM News Channel would be the best medium in the government's effort to quash the flood of misinformation or fake news, which has since become a daily phenomenon.
"To go up against fake news, we need to flood the market with factual news, which RTM had been doing so all this while.
"The battle with fake news will never end. However, ultimately, people will be able to differentiate real and accurate information from fabricated ones, with RTM News Channel," he added.
Saifuddin said that with this brand new channel, it showed how serious RTM was in countering fake news.
With the tagline "Yang Sahih di Berita RTM", the 24-hour news channel will have news programmes in Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil.
It offers a more comprehensive content with 25 news slots daily, 12 talk shows a week, business news for five days and two magazine programmes a week.
In addition, it also features "Pastikan Sahih" which airs at 6.30pm from Mondays to Fridays, a programme dedicated to countering viral fake news.