Network STMB Country Malaysia | Owned by NSTP | |
 | ||
Launched Monday, 8 September 2003 Closed Thursday, 3 February 2005 Picture format SDTV (480i 4:3)
PAL (576i 4:3)
DVB-T (Digital UHF) | ||
Channel 9 was a Malaysian commercial free-to-air terrestrial television station. The station officially began broadcasting nationwide on Monday, 8 September 2003 and was operated by STMB, a member of Media Prima and subsidiary of NTSP. It was forced to shut down on Thursday, 3 February 2005 due to company debts. Channel 9's programming is similar to that of TV3, NTV7, and 8TV.
Channel 9 is a sister channel of TV3, NTV7, and 8TV and shared facilities with Media Prima at its headquarters at Shah Alam.
Channel 9 transmitted via UHF (Ultra High Frequency) through six transmission stations located in Kuala Lumpur (Channel 33), Johor Bahru (Channel 44), Shah Alam (Channel 42), George Town (Channel 48), Mallaca (Channel 37), and Genting Highlands (Channel 6).
The channel targets Malay and Indonesian-speaking viewers, though English, Chinese, Teochew, Cantonese, Taiwanese language, Japanese, and Tamil are also shown on this channel as well.
Channel 9 had a 12-hour transmission schedule, broadcasting daily from 12:00 until 00:00 MST.
History
Channel 9 was launched on Monday, 8 September 2003 with the national anthem, station ident, and first programmes to the 6-major cities in Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (UHF 33), Johor Bahru (UHF 44), Shah Alam (UHF 42), George Town (UHF 48), Malacca Town (UHF 37), and Genting Highlands (UHF 6), with programming similar to that of TV3. The line-up consisted of programs in English, Chinese, Teochew, Cantonese, Taiwanese language, Japanese, and Tamil. It also featured infomercials & shopping from TV Innovations as a television advertising program.
In the early stages, daily broadcasting hours were from 12:00 until 00:00 MST and the 12-hours of broadcasting ended with a closing transmission that indicated the final broadcast at 00:00 MST.
Channel 9 increased broadcast hours when it started showing dramas, popular shows, situation comedies, game shows, movie premieres, news, variety shows, and music video programs.