Borneo Rising goes national with Sabah shoot, no KL audition needed
Astro will launch Borneo Rising, an eight-episode talent search platform produced entirely in Sabah and broadcast nationwide from Sept 6, bypassing Kuala Lumpur auditions for artists in Sarawak and Sabah.
Source: Astro Mustika HD · August 26, 2026 at 6:46 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 26 AUGUST 2026 —
Astro will launch Borneo Rising, an eight-episode talent search platform produced entirely in Sabah and broadcast nationwide from Sept 6, bypassing Kuala Lumpur auditions for artists in Sarawak and Sabah.
Market Impact
The Sunday-night series airs at 9 p.m. on Astro Ria (channel 104) and TV Okey (channel 146), with on-demand streaming via Astro GO, Sooka and RTMKlik. It is produced with CelcomDigi and marks the first time Astro has staged a full-skilled production outside the Klang Valley, programme manager Idlan Zahari told Gempak.
“We want to remove the barrier so talent no longer needs to come to Kuala Lumpur,” Idlan said. “We want to go to Sabah and find voices we haven’t heard yet.”
Vice-president of Malay content strategy Raqim Ahmad said the initiative goes beyond competition to celebrate Borneo’s music heritage. “Borneo Rising is more than a contest; it is an appreciation of the art, culture, genres and creative spirit that have long defined Sabah and Sarawak,” he said. “We can deepen our understanding of their unique musical rhythms and elevate their culture to a higher stage.”
The judging panel brings together industry figures from Sarawak, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur: Noh Salleh of Hujan, Marsha Milan and Shila Amzah. Zizan Razak and Sherry Alhadad will host the show.
Astro’s move follows a push by Malaysian broadcasters to decentralise content production outside the Klang Valley. Earlier this year, Media Prima announced a RM30 million fund for localised shows filmed in East Malaysia.
The eight-episode format keeps production costs within Astro’s existing content budget, according to Astro’s corporate filing. Programme format and platform windows were finalised in July and have not changed.
Industry watchers say the initiative could help diversify Malaysia’s music output and reduce the concentration of creative talent in the capital. “Borneo Rising shows how platforms can rebalance the creative economy by bringing production to where the talent lives,” said a Kuala Lumpur-based media analyst who tracks Astro.
Sabah’s state government welcomed the production, noting that local crews and venues will benefit from the eight-week shoot. “This validates Sabah’s readiness to host high-quality television production,” said a senior official who asked not to be named.
Astro has not disclosed audience targets or ratings benchmarks for Borneo Rising. The show’s first episode will stream on Astro GO from Sept 6 at 10 p.m., with subsequent episodes released weekly.
Related: Astro