KUALA LUMPUR – Fresh from delivering free-to-air coverage of the entire 2026 Fifa World Cup, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is preparing to expand its portfolio of premium sports broadcasts, with several major international sporting events set to be announced in the coming months.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said RTM has secured the broadcast rights to additional world-class sporting events, although details will only be revealed at a later date.
“Broadcasting director-general Ashwad Ismail has informed me that RTM will be airing several more tournaments. Those announcements will be made later,” he told reporters after attending the Unity Merdeka x RTM World Cup 2026 programme at Dataran Merdeka early this morning.
Fahmi said the Communications Ministry will first obtain complete viewership data for the 2026 Fifa World Cup final before carrying out a comprehensive assessment of RTM’s overall tournament coverage.
He acknowledged that several technical issues emerged during the early stages of the broadcasts but said they were quickly identified and resolved.
“I will obtain the figures later, and we will review the overall broadcast performance. There were some technical issues at the beginning, but they were identified and successfully resolved.
“I believe this is also a good opportunity for us to explore new technologies, including making television broadcasts more accessible on smartphones. This is very good for Malaysians,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ashwad said RTM remains committed to strengthening strategic partnerships with local media organisations to ensure Malaysians continue to enjoy quality programming, particularly coverage of major sporting events.
He stressed that the national broadcaster views access to important events as a public service rather than a commercial battle over exclusive broadcasting rights.
“This is not about who has the exclusive rights, who does not, who wins or who loses. When it comes to content that Malaysians need, the Department of Broadcasting Malaysia believes it goes beyond competition,” he said.
Ashwad added that the collaborative approach adopted during the World Cup would serve as a model for future marquee events, enabling RTM to work closely with media partners to deliver broader access to high-profile sporting competitions for audiences nationwide. – July 20, 2026