Malaysia to examine residual payment scheme for reused film and TV productions

The Malaysian government is moving to establish a framework that would compensate performers when films and television productions featuring their work are reused across different platforms or broadcast windows.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that Finas will undertake a comprehensive examination of potential revenue-sharing models to determine which approach would be most appropriate for the local industry. The initiative seeks to address concerns that actors and performers currently receive limited financial benefit when their performances generate additional income through reruns, syndication, or streaming distribution.

The study comes as Malaysia's entertainment sector continues to expand, with increased demand for content across traditional broadcast and digital platforms. Industry stakeholders have long advocated for mechanisms that would allow performers to share in revenues derived from the reuse of their work, citing international precedents where such residual payment systems are well-established.

Finas's investigation is expected to evaluate various models used in other jurisdictions and assess their feasibility within Malaysia's regulatory and contractual framework. Officials indicated that findings from the study would inform policy recommendations regarding implementation and administration of any residual payment scheme.