Malaysia’s largest free-TV media platform, Media Prima, closed its 18-month-old pay-per-view streaming service, Tonton Cinema, at the weekend, saying the closure would be temporary while technical upgrades are implemented.

Services were suspended on Saturday (1 October).

Media Prima gave no details on the nature of the upgrades but promised that the movie platform, launched in March 2021 in the midst of Malaysia’s Covid-19 movement control order, would come back “stronger”.

No date has been confirmed for Tonton Cinema’s return.  

Local audiences will still be able to access live TV streams of Media Prima channels on the tonton app and website. 

One of Asia’s earliest streaming brands, tonton has ridden the ups and downs of both its corporate owner and the larger Southeast Asian industry with various iterations. 

Tonton Cinema went live last year with promo rates per movie of as low as RM1/US$0.21 and no subscription lock ins. Movies were available for 48 hours on up to five devices simultaneously. 

At the time, Media Prima said Tonton Cinema would produce its own originals and called for content submissions. 

Tonton Cinema offered a range of Asian and international titles, including CJ ENM/tvN  movies such as "Parasite", "The Witch", "The Battle", "Deliver Us From Evil" and "Peninsula", as well as local movie titles such as "Dendam Penunggu" and "Sirah Junjungan Tahajud Cinta".