Astro (television)

Short description: Malaysian direct broadcast satellite pay TV service

Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd

Type| Subsidiary
Industry| Broadcasting, Mass Media
Founded| 1 June 1996; 30 years ago (1996-06-01)
Founder| Ananda Krishnan
Headquarters| All Asia Broadcast Centre (AABC), Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Area served

| Malaysia

Key people

| Tunku Ali Redhauddin, Chairman
Euan Daryl Smith, CEO
Products| Direct broadcast satellite
Mobile TV
Internet TV

Operating income

|  RM777.71 million (2014)[1]

Net income

|  RM447.95 million (2014)[1]
Parent| Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad
Subsidiaries| NJOI
Website| www.astro.com.my

All-Asian Satellite Television and Radio Operator, doing business as Astro, is a Malaysian satellite television and IPTV provider. It operates in Malaysia and Brunei and operates from the All Asia Broadcast Centre (AABC) in Kuala Lumpur and MEASAT in Cyberjaya. In 2016, the company was recorded as achieving 71% household penetration in Malaysia.[2] It was granted an exclusive license as the sole pay-television provider by the Malaysian federal government until 2017.[3] Astro is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad and is operated by MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems Sdn. Bhd.

Astro launched the high-definition platform Astro B.yond in 2009[4] and the IPTV platform Astro IPTV in 2011, with the latter targeted at consumers who were unable to receive the company's satellite services.[5]

Astro formerly operated in Indonesia from 2006 to 2008, under the Astro Nusantara [id; id] brand and was operated by PT Direct Vision.[6]

## Contents

* 1 List of Astro digital brands
* 2 Criticism and controversies
* 2.1 Monopoly over paid television market
* 2.2 Sports content dispute
* 2.3 Overcharging
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## List of Astro digital brands

* Astro Awani - Astro's Flagship News Network.[7]
* Gempak - Malay entertainment website.[8]
* Rojak Daily - Gempak's subpage; originally as standalone website.[9]
* Go Shop - Home shopping service under the joint venture with GS Group – Astro GS Shop Sdn Bhd.[10]
* Sooka - Television streaming service, served as Astro content platform.[11]
* Stadium Astro - Sports news website.[12]
* Ulagam - Indian news and entertainment website.[13]
* Xuan - Chinese news and entertainment website.[14]
* Hotspot - Xuan's subpage; originally as standalone website.[15]

## Criticism and controversies

### Monopoly over paid television market

Astro has been criticised for its monopolistic practices in which it has become the dominant paid television service in Malaysia while its competitors ABNXcess, Mega TV, and MiTV were not able to compete against Astro and became defunct after Astro's launch.[16][17] Astro was the sole paid television operator in Malaysia until 2017 when another competitor, Telekom Malaysia's Unifi TV, emerged as a strong cord-cutting alternative.[18]

The Malaysian government's plan to regulate Android-based set-top boxes in 2019 raised concerns that Astro's dominance over the country's television content market would be enhanced.[19] While Astro's exclusive rights to Malaysian broadcast content expired in 2017, the company continues to have non-exclusive broadcast privileges under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Starting in 2022, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will provide Content Applications Service Provider (CASP) licenses to 35 broadcasting companies, four of which are approved to deliver content via satellite television.[20]

### Sports content dispute

Astro has also enjoyed control of the broadcasting rights for sports events, including all Liga Super and Piala Malaysia events, and the FIFA World Cup 2014[21] and 2018. Competitors were restricted from airing those events,[22][23] or were required by regulators to pay excessive royalties to Astro.[21] The high royalty fees were criticised by Jeremy Kung, executive vice president of TM New Media, who argued that sports content on free-to-air television channels should be made available to public for free.[21] Former Information, Communications, Arts and Culture minister Rais Yatim urged the media groups who had exclusive rights to major sports events to share their content to free-to-air television channels.[23] Pakatan Harapan youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad argued that the rights to broadcast English Premier League should be co-licensed with Radio Television Malaysia instead of restricted to Astro.[24]

Astro's short-lived Indonesian operations were also subject of investigation by Indonesian regulators, and accusations by rival providers, over allegations of the company also monopolizing Premier League rights in the country.[25]

### Overcharging

Astro has been criticised for raising its service prices and imposing penalty fees on customers. In 2007, Astro raised its service fee about 15% and converted previously free channels like Bloomberg, Al Jazeera English, and CGTN into paid channels. Anyone who attempted to drop such service packages was charged a fee.[26] Malaysiakini reporter Cheah Kah Seng encouraged customers to protest against the price hikes and provided instructions on how to do so.[27] Due to broadcasting rights it has received from the Malaysian government, Astro raised its fees several more times in the following years, while consumers had fewer competitive alternatives.[28]

Astro often shows commercials on premium channels for which consumers paid for an ad-free experience.[29] Customers who use the Astro personal video recorder (PVR), Astro MAX, have reported performance problems[26] and difficulty in recording certain channels.[30]

## See also

* Astro Channel List
* Television in Malaysia
* Digital television in Malaysia
* Kristal-Astro

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "BursaMKTPLC : IQ215354258". http://www.bursamarketplace.com/index.php?ch=ch_themarket&pg=pg_tm_stocksss&ac=2058&sch=ch_stocks_financials.
2. ↑ "Astro aims to increase household penetration to 75% next year - Business News | The Star Online". http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2016/12/07/astro-aims-to-increase-household-penetration-to-75pc-next-year/.
3. ↑ Goh Thean Eu, (22 September 2014) Astro scores in all major indicators, malaymailonline.com
4. ↑ Astro to launch HDTV services on Friday . Retrieved on 23 December 2009
5. ↑ [1] . Astro partners with TIME dotcom to roll-out Astro B.yond IPTV services, Greyreview.com, Retrieved 24 September 2014
6. ↑ "Astro Akhirnya Berhenti Siaran" (in Indonesian). 2008-10-20. https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2008/10/20/02163110/astro.akhirnya.berhenti.siaran.
7. ↑ "Astro Awani's Official website". https://www.astroawani.com/.
8. ↑ "Gempak Official website". https://gempak.com/.
9. ↑ "Rojak Daily Subpage in Gempak". https://gempak.com/rojakdaily.
10. ↑ "Go Shop Official website". https://www.goshop.com.my/.
11. ↑ "Sooka Official website". https://sooka.my/.
12. ↑ "Stadium Astro Official website". https://www.stadiumastro.com/.
13. ↑ "Astro Ulagam Official website". https://astroulagam.com.my/.
14. ↑ "Xuan Official website". https://xuan.com.my/.
15. ↑ "Hotspot Subpage in Xuan". https://xuan.com.my/hotspot.
16. ↑ Sharil (2017-08-18). "New Satellite TV Service Emerges, Ending Astro's Monopoly". Lowyat.net. https://www.lowyat.net/2017/138748/new-satellite-tv-service-emerges-ending-astros-monopoly/.
17. ↑ Wong, Alexander (2018-11-19). "There are 5 satellite Pay TV providers in Malaysia but nothing has changed". SoyaCincau. https://www.soyacincau.com/2018/11/19/astro-no-longer-monopoly-in-malaysia/.
18. ↑ Siew Li, Kang (2017-08-18). "Tech: HyppTV more than just complementary to TM". The Edge. https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/tech-hypptv-more-just-complementary-tm.
19. ↑ Syed Jafaar, Syahirah (2019-02-08). "Proposed clampdown on Android TV box would boost Astro". The Edge. https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/proposed-clampdown-android-tv-box-would-boost-astro.
20. ↑ "No more monopoly for Astro overpaid TV broadcasting, Parliament told". Malay Mail (Kuala Lumpur). 2018-11-19. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2018/11/19/no-more-monopoly-for-astro-for-paid-tv-broadcasting-parliament-told/1694927.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Chapree, Chef (2014-05-29). "World Cup 2014 RTM Black Out: Contents On Free To Air Channels Should Remain Free Says HyppTV's Chief". Lowyat.net. https://www.lowyat.net/2014/26427/world-cup-2014-rtm-black-out-contents-on-free-to-air-channels-should-remain-free-says-hypptvs-chief/.
22. ↑ Wong, Alexander (2018-06-11). "You won't be able to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Unifi TV". SoyaCincau. https://www.soyacincau.com/2018/06/11/you-wont-be-able-to-watch-the-2018-fifa-world-cup-on-unifi-tv/.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Media Prima drops Fifa ball". The Sun. 2014-04-24. https://www.thesundaily.my/archive/1026946-MRARCH249614.
24. ↑ Khoo, Daniel (2018-05-31). "Astro shares continue on downtrend". The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2018/05/31/astro-shares-continue-on-downtrend/.
25. ↑ "Ada Monopoli Astro di Siaran Liga Inggris" (in Indonesian). 2008-07-10. https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2008/07/17/10242987/ada-monopoli-astro-di-siaran-liga-inggris.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Kah Seng, Cheah (2007-09-11). "Malaysiakini: How I save RM30 on Astro a month". Malaysiakini. http://www.nccc.org.my/v2/index.php/aduan-pengguna/arkib-2005-2008/p-s/satellite-television/387-malaysiakini-how-i-save-rm30-on-astro-a-month.
27. ↑ Kah Seng, Cheah (2007-07-27). "Here's how to protest against Astro". Malaysiakini. https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/70459.
28. ↑ bin Md. Dawam, Zairul Anuar; Sareya, Rosli; Bromeo Bianus, Adley; Hisham, M. Fazmi; Ali, Shahizan (November 2015). "MONOPOLY IN MALAYSIA TELEVISION MARKET: EFFECT ON MALAYSIAN FILM PRODUCERS". https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294811654.
29. ↑ Xavier, Joachim (2007-06-14). "Astro suffering from monopoly syndrome". Malaysiakini. https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/68613.
30. ↑ Adrian (2006-11-05). "Astro MAX". http://www.ourplaypen.com/2006/11/05/astro-max/.

## External links

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Television providers and channels in Malaysia

Free-to-air|

| General channels
(Digital only)|

* TV1
* TV2
* TV3
* NTV7
* 8TV
* TV9
* TV Alhijrah
* TV Okey
* Bernama News Channel
* TV Pendidikan

|

Additional channels
(Digital only)|

| Astro NJOI
(Satellite)|

* Astro Prima
* Astro Oasis
* Astro Vaanavil
* Makkal TV
* Astro AEC
* Astro Xiao Tai Yang
* CCM
* CCTV-4
* Astro Awani
* Astro Arena
* eGG Network HD
* Astro Tutor TV
* Astro Tutor TV UPSR
* Astro Tutor TV PT3
* Astro Tutor TV SPM
* Astro Go Shop
* Astro Go Shop Malay
* Astro Go Shop Mandarin
* Hello HD
* NJOI
* iView

|

myFreeview
(Terrestrial)|

* RTM Sports
* CJ Wow Shop
* CJ Wow Shop Malay
* CJ Wow Shop Mandarin
* Berita RTM
* Astro Go Shop
* Astro Go Shop Malay

Pay television|

| Satellite|

| Astro|

* ABC Australia
* Adithya TV
* Al-Jazeera English
* Animal Planet
* ART Variety
* Animax Asia
* Asian Food Network
* Astro AEC
* Astro AOD
* Astro Arena
* Astro Awani
* Astro Best
* Astro Box Office
* Astro Box Office Tayangan Hebat
* Astro Box Office Thangathirai
* Astro Box Office BollyOne HD
* Astro Ceria
* Astro Citra
* Astro Cricket HD
* Astro First
* Astro Go Shop
* Astro Go Shop Malay
* Astro Go Shop Mandarin
* Astro Hua Hee Dai
* Astro Oasis
* Astro Prima
* Astro Quan Jia HD
* Astro Ria
* Astro SuperSport
* Astro SuperSport 2
* Astro SuperSport 3
* Astro SuperSport 4
* Astro Shuang Xing
* Astro Tutor TV UPSR
* Astro Tutor TV PT3
* Astro Tutor TV SPM
* Astro TVIQ
* Astro Vaanavil
* Astro Vellithirai
* Astro Vinmeen HD
* Astro Wah Lai Toi
* Astro Warna
* Astro Xiao Tai Yang
* AXN Asia
* BabyTV
* BBC World News
* beIN Sports HD
* beIN Sports MAX HD
* Bintang
* Bloomberg TV Malaysia
* BOO HD
* Cartoon Network Asia
* CCTV-4
* CGTN
* Celestial Movies
* CCM
* CNA HD
* Chutti TV
* Cinemax Asia
* CNBC Asia
* CNN International
* Colors Tamil HD
* Comedy Central Asia HD
* Crime & Investigation Network
* CTI Asia
* Discovery Channel
* Discovery Asia HD
* Discovery Science
* Disney Channel Malaysia
* Disney Junior Asia
* Disney XD HD
* DMAX
* eGG HD
* Eurosport
* Food Network HD
* Fox HD
* Fox Life
* Fox Movies
* Fox Action Movies HD
* Fox Family Movies HD
* Fox Sports
* Fox Sports 2
* Fox Sports 3
* FX HD
* Golf Channel HD
* HBO Asia
* Hello HD
* HGTV HD
* History Channel Asia
* Hits HD
* Hits Movies HD
* iQiyi HD
* Jaya TV
* Kalaignar TV
* KBS World
* KIX HD
* Makkal TV
* MTV Asia
* National Geographic Channel (Asia)
* Nat Geo Wild
* Nat Geo People HD
* Naura HD
* Nickelodeon Asia
* NHK World Premium
* Oh!K HD
* ONE HD
* Pelangi
* Phoenix Chinese Channel
* Phoenix InfoNews Channel
* PPV Movies HD
* Raj TV
* Sky News HD
* Star Chinese Channel
* Star Vijay
* Sun Music
* Sun TV
* Tara HD
* TLC
* TVB Jade HD
* TVB Classic
* TVB Xing He
* TVB Entertainment News
* TVBS-Asia
* TVN HD
* TVN Movies HD
* Warner TV HD
* WWE Network

|

IPTV|

| Unifi TV|

* Al Jazeera HD
* Animax HD
* Australia Plus
* BabyFirst
* BabyTV HD
* BBC Earth HD
* BBC First (VOD)
* BBC Lifestyle HD
* BBC World News HD
* Bloomberg TV Malaysia
* Boomerang HD
* Cartoon Network HD (Available Soon)
* Blue Ant Entertainment HD
* Blue Ant Extreme HD
* CBeebies HD
* Channel NewsAsia HD
* CNN HD (Available Soon)
* CinemaWorld HD
* Colors
* Colors Cineplex
* Colors Tamil HD
* Comedy Central HD
* Dunia Sinema HD
* DW HD
* DreamWorks HD
* Euronews
* Fox HD
* Fox Life HD
* Fox Movies HD
* Fox Action Movies HD
* Fox Family Movies HD
* Fox Sports HD
* Fox Sports 2 HD
* Fox Sports 3 HD
* FX HD
* France 24
* Highlights HD
* Hypp Inspirasi HD
* Hypp Pesona HD
* Hypp Sensasi HD
* Hypp Salam HD
* Jaya Max
* LAKU MALL HD
* Luxe.TV HD
* MTV HD
* National Geographic HD
* Nat Geo Wild
* Nat Geo People HD
* Nickelodeon Asia
* Nick Jr.
* NHK World-Japan HD
* NHK World Premium HD
* NOW TV International
* NOW Baogu
* NOW Jelli
* NOW Chinese Drama (VOD)
* Paramount Channel HD
* Polimer TV
* Parlimen Malaysia
* PlayBOX HD (VOD)
* SETI
* RED by HBO HD
* Sony Entertainment Television
* Sony SAB
* Sony Max
* Sky News International HD
* STAR Chinese Channel
* SCM
* SCM Legend
* Travel Channel HD
* TVN HD
* TVN Movies HD
* unifi Sports (formerly Hypp Sports)
* UTV Movies
* WarnerTV HD

|

Streaming television|

* TV Sarawak

Defunct|

| Providers|

* ABNXcess
* eTV
* Mega TV
* U Television

|

Channels|

* Channel 9
* Muzik Aktif
* TVi
* TV5
* TV Johor
* TV Sabah (not launched)
* Worldview Broadcasting Channel

* v
* t
* e

Cable, satellite, and other specialty television providers in Africa, Asia and Oceania

Cable|

* Asianet Digital
* Cable TV (Hong Kong)
* Cablevision (Lebanon)
* Clear TV (Nepal)
* Cablelink
* DEN Networks
* Destiny Cable
* Docomo Pacific
* eonet (Japan)
* Ethio telecom
* First Media
* Foxtel
* GMM Z
* Hathway
* Hot
* INDigital
* Inwi
* Itscom (Japan)
* J:COM (Japan)
* Kbro
* Kuwait Cablevision
* Lanka Broadband Networks (Sri Lanka)
* Malitel
* Mascom
* Montage Cable TV (Nigeria)
* Mozaic TV (Qatar)
* OkeVision
* Optus Television
* PPCTV
* Rostelecom
* Safaricom
* Siti Networks
* Sky Cable
* Sonatel
* Taiwan Broadcast Communications
* Tokai Cable
* TransACT
* tn TV (Namibia)
* TrueVisions
* TVCabo (Mozambique)
* United Communication Service
* Unitel (Angola)
* Vodacom (South Africa)
* VTVCab
* WorldCall

Satellite|

* Airtel digital TV
* Astro (Malaysia)
* Azam TV
* Canal+ Afrique
* Canal+ Calédonie
* Canal+ Réunion/Madagascar/Maurice
* Canal+ (Myanmar)
* Cignal
* Consat (Nigeria)
* D2h
* DD Free Dish
* DDishTV
* Dialog TV (Sri Lanka)
* Dish TV (India)
* Dish TV (Sri Lanka)
* DishHome
* DStv (Sub-Saharan Africa)
* Foxtel (Australia)
* GMM Z
* G Sat
* Independent TV (India)
* Indosat
* K+ (Vietnam)
* beIN
* K-Vision
* Kristal-Astro
* KT SkyLife
* ME Digital TV
* MediaNet
* Metro Digital
* MBC
* MNC Vision
* NJOI
* NTV Plus
* OrangeTV
* OSN (Middle East and North Africa)
* Pacific Broadcasting Services Fiji
* Pearl Digital TV
* Pra International Green Group India
* RealVU
* Sky Pacific
* SKY PerfecTV!
* Sky (New Zealand)
* Sky Net
* Sky Vision (Ivory Coast)
* StarSat
* StarTimes
* Sun Direct
* Tata Play
* TelOne Zimbabwe
* Transvision (Indonesia)
* TrendTV
* TrueVisions
* Vini TV (French Polynesia)
* Wowow
* Yes (Israel)
* ZAP
* Zuku

IPTV|

* BTV
* BesTV
* Cignal
* Cellcom TV (Israel)
* DU
* Fetch TV
* Fine TV
* Go TV (New Caledonia)
* GTA Teleguam
* Hikari TV (Japan)
* Hot NEXT (Israel)
* LG Uplus
* Maroc Telecom
* My.T
* NET TV (Nepal)
* Now TV (Hong Kong)
* Olleh TV
* Omantel
* La TV d'Orange (Réunion, Mayotte)
* Partner TV (Israel)
* PEO TV (Sri Lanka)
* Rostelecom
* Saudi Telecom Company
* SFR (Réunion, Mayotte)
* Singtel TV (Singapore)
* SKY Media
* Sky On Demand
* StarHub TV (Singapore)
* Uganda Telecom
* Unifi TV (Malaysia)
* USeeTV (Indonesia)
* Yes STING (Israel)

Terrestrial|

* ABS-CBN TV Plus Digital TV Receiver
* Canal+ (Myanmar)
* Easy TV by Canal+ (Congo)
* Freeview (Australia)
* Freeview (New Zealand)
* GMA Affordabox
* MYTV (Malaysia)
* StarTimes
* Sulit TV

Defunct /
Inactive|

* Aora
* Austar
* CTH (Thailand)
* DishHD
* Dream Satellite TV
* Easy TV (Philippines)
* Galaxy (Australia)
* Home Cable
* Igloo (New Zealand)
* Kwesé TV
* Mega TV (Malaysia)
* myHD (MENA)
* Neighbourhood Cable (Australia)
* SelecTV (Australia)
* Sky Direct
* Sky Cable
* U Television (Malaysia)
* Vodafone TV (New Zealand)

* Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania
* Europe
* Americas
* Canada
* United States
* Latin America and the Caribbean

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