8tv () is a Malaysian Chinese-language free-to-air television (formerly both English and Chinese-language free-to-air television) network focused on the Chinese community of Malaysia. Its programming consists of mostly dramas, sitcoms and reality shows made in Chinese, either produced in Malaysia or imported from other countries, such as Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Singapore, the occasional Korean drama is target for Malay viewers. History As MetroVision Television channel 8TV began official broadcasts on 1 July 1995, then known as MetroVision. It was managed by City Television Sdn Bhd, part of the Melewar Group, which was controlled by a member of the Negeri Sembilan royal family. Other shareholders included Utusan Malaysia, Medan Mas and Diversified Systems. The first broadcast license granted to MetroVision was only for the Klang Valley (appx. 3 million viewers). MetroVision transmitted on UHF channel 27 from Gunung Ulu Kali (near Genting Highlands). It was first available only in Klang Valley, Seremban, parts of Pahang and Malacca, but later expanded to Kedah and Johor, also being receivable from Singapore. Metrovision had a Malay news programme named Warta Prima. By the end of 1996, MetroVision was sold to a new owner. Due to the Asian financial crisis and overcrowding from other channels and pay-TV operators (such as Astro, Mega TV and NTV7), MetroVision shut down on 1 November 1999. The operator promised to re-start the channel in March 2000 after a supposed "signal upgrade" but that did not materialise. Renamed 8TV and early history On 8 January 2004, MetroVision was relaunched as and rebranded into 8TV under the entity of Metropolitan TV Sdn Bhd after the company was brought by Media Prima in 2003 with few Chinese, Malay and English contents in the beginning. Throughout its history, all the contents were gradually replaced by Chinese content as more of them were added to the channel's broadcasting slot. Mandarin is used in all of its news broadcasts nowadays and there was also a short-lived Malay news broadcast that was available in the channel's early years. As a Chinese-oriented TV channel, 8TV broadcasts more Chinese programmes and movies and hold its own Chinese New Year campaign in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations every year. As part of the campaign, the TV company distributes its Chinese New Year singles discography in competition with rival Astro since 2009. (Astro began to distribute Chinese New Year singles since 2008.) Beginning from 2015, 8TV