Malaysian government resumes administraton of Bernama TV

Minister of Information Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said yesterday that the situation was temporary until national newswire Bernama could get a better deal to operate the TV station. 

"Because the joint venture between several corporate entities and Bernama had suffered several setbacks, we decided to assist Bernama TV for the time being until a more profitable and equitable platform is found," he said in a report by Bernama.

Under an agreement signed in 2008, public limited firm Silver Ridge holds 67 per cent of Bernama TV's holding company, BTV Synergy, while Bernama owns the remaining 33 per cent. When Silver Ridge ran into financial problems last year, the management of the newsroom was handed over to Redberry.

The minister said that until a better arrangement could be met, national public broadcaster RTM would cooperate with Bernama TV and assist if required.

Malaysia's largest free-TV broadcaster, Media Prima, has said that while it has no plans to acquire Bernama TV at present, it doesn't discount the possibility.