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Astro is a Subscription -based Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) or ''direct-to-home'' Satellite Television and Radio service initially in Malaysia , but has expanded to Brunei and Indonesia . The service is broadcast from the All Asia Broadcast Centre (ABC) located in Bukit Jalil , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia. Astro is owned by MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, a subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks Plc . GENERAL INFORMATION ]] The service was launched in 1996 following the launch of the MEASAT-1 satellite with an initial bouquet of 22 television and 8 radio channels. Currently, the service consists of 68 television, 17 radio, and 5 Pay-per-view channels plus various interactive services. The television service comprises all six Malaysian Terrestrial TV networks (RTM 1, RTM 2, TV3, ntv7, 8TV & TV9), a number of Vernacular channels (packaged in-house by ASTRO), as well as a selection of international English and Chinese language networks. Astro's own News Channel carries programming from the news channel Al Jazeera , available in dual language, Arabic and Malay , as well as the Australia Network . It also airs Astro News, a half-hour locally produced news program. Until February 2007, Astro News was co-produced with the national news agency BERNAMA , with the former taking 12 minutes of the programme for general, sports and entertainment news from Malaysia. Astro's in-house news team produced the business news segment, which was originally Bloomberg TV Malaysia (see Astro RIA for details). The news is also translated into Mandarin on Astro AEC, Malay on Astro RIA and Tamil on Astro Vaanavil. In February 2007, BERNAMA took over the full half-hour production pending a revamp of the internal news team at Astro. Channels broadcast on the Astro service are delayed, with time varying from several seconds to an hour, from their source feeds using a digital server system. This delay is used to edit programming to comply with the governmental guidelines on foreign and unsuitable content, as well as to facilitate commercial replacement, as local laws prohibit the broadcast of commercials produced overseas. Astro has previously announced that it would introduce 50 new channels with the launch of the MEASAT-3 satellite. However, delays affecting the manufacture of the satellite and problems with the launch vehicle has pushed back the launch of the satellite from mid-2005 to December 12 , 2006. All channels are now receiving the signals in full swing from MEASAT-3 , after the launch of the satellite in December 12, 2006. From May 2007, Astro added another 9 channels into its line-up. The nine channels that were announced are Jia Yu Channel , Discovery Science , Discovery Real Time , Discovery Home & Health , E! Entertainment , Astro Vellithiraiļ¼ Sun Music , Eurosport and The Golf Channel . Jia Yu Channel, Discovery Science and Discovery Real Time were already added into Astro's line-up on April 26 , 2007. The other six channels became available from May 1 , 2007 onwards. These nine channels will be available for free until August 31 , 2007. After that, these channels will be available in their respective packages. There will be another two channels joining the Astro platform. The History Channel and the Crime & Investigation Network will begin its broadcast from June 15 , 2007 onwards. In June 2007, Astro introduced Astro On-Demand, a new channel featuring the latest TVB dramas from Hong Kong on 6 channels. On July 1, 2007 onwards, Astro On-Demand preview was introduced, and it is entirely devoted to telling the Astro subscribers about this new channel. Prior to July 1, 2007, all dramas that were on broadcast on Channel 910 - 916 (now moved to Channel 931 - 937) were free. After that, in July 2007, the introductory price for shows on Astro-On Demand was set at RM 0.99 per episode, for subscribers who have subscribed to the Dynasty Package, and RM 1.49 per episode, for those who have not. A total of 31 channels have been allocated for this new service. Astro. Astro On-Demand microsite . Retrieved July 19 2006. SERVICE AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION or a Mini-dish .]] The ''direct-to-home'' service, branded as Direct-to-U (DTU), is broadcast as high-power Ku-band transmissions utilizing the transponders of the MEASAT satellite system. Reception of the service signals uses a fixed 60cm diameter dish antenna. Although Ku-band signals can be affected by rain attenuation ( Rain Fade ), making it susceptible to frequent outages in heavy rainfall areas such as Malaysia, the operators of Astro have employed a tailor-made system to boost power of the satellite delivery system to overcome this problem. The advertised service availability of 99.7%, however, is still a topic of much debate by subscribers. Astro's broadcast signals are DVB-S compliant and compressed using MPEG-2 standards, and is considered a Digital Television , currently, however, broadcasting in 480i and 576i ( SDTV ). The signals are also Encoded and Encrypted prior to transmission forming a Conditional Access subscriber service, allowing access only to subscribers with a Decoder and authorized Smartcard . Receiver/Decoder Since its launch, Astro has introduced 3 generations of receiver/decoders. Digital Video Recorder In July 2006, Astro announced the Astro Max system, a new Astro receiver/decoder integrated with a Digital Video Recorder . This decoder will enable Astro subscribers to record up to 60 hours of programming on a 80GB hard disk. The system records programming without converting the MPEG-2 digital satellite stream, as such the recorded video is the same high quality as the broadcast feed. Inclusion of 2 tuners enables the recording of one programme, while viewing another. However, the system is not able to record two channels/programmes at the same time. Astro MAX includes standard features found on digital video recorders such as pausing, rewinding and replaying "live" TV as well as a 30 second skip. The unit also has a 30 minute buffer which constantly records the currently watched program. Full integration with Astro's electronic programme guide enables easy selection of programmes to be recorded. Additional features include the ability to record all audio tracks and all subtitle tracks on multiple language programming. Copies of programmes recorded can also be transferred to DVD or VHS tape. At present there is no service fee for the use of the Astro MAX system. Pricing / Subscription The Astro service uses the package pricing model commonly used by other and Premium ) made available to Subscriber s at a monthly fee. The basic packages are categorized into four groups (known as mini package): Learning (documentaries), Fun (kids & cartoons), Variety and News. This package exculde the Sports Package. Premium packages (known as Super Package) include Movies, Dynasty (Chinese language) and Emperor (Chinese language). Minimum entry level is priced at RM37.95 (excluding all the mini packages, Sports Packages & Super Packages). Subscribers who pay this amount will only enjoy channels grouped under Astro Family banner that offers 35 channels, including six free-to-air terestrial television networks, in-house vernacular channels and some international networks. All subscribers also receive these channels at a different rate, depending on what packages they subscribed to. CHANNEL LINE-UP (MALAYSIA) ASTRO Family (General)
Dynasty Package (Chinese Language Channels)
Emperor Package (Premium Chinese Channels)
Movie Package
Learning Package (Documentaries)
Fun Package (Kids & Cartoons)
Variety Package
Sports Package
News Package
ASTRO Box Office (Pay-per-view Channels)
Radio Channels KEY: Indicates availability as terrestrial FM Radio Indicates availability on Maxis3G (Maxis TV) Interactive Services
RATINGS At present, there are two ratings on Astro. The ratings are:
BROADBAND & INTERNET BASED SERVICES At the end of 1999 , Astro's operator MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems announced a proposal to provide high-speed Satellite-delivered Internet Access services. The service, called @stronet-JARING, was to be a one-way terrestrial return system, whereby Malaysian ISP Jaring would provide the outbound data service through Dial-up access. Downloads would be received via the MEASAT satellite system, which promised a maximum download speed of 6.5Mbit/s. A PC -based trial was performed in early 2000 with a maximum download speed of 400kbit/s. Other proposed services included Multicast File Transfer and Multicast Streaming Delivery . The service, however, has never been made available publicly. In May . The service requires a separate subscription fee charged to the subscribers mobile phone bill. VIEWERSHIP As at January 2007, the service has 2.016 million residential subscribers, which represents 36.5% of Malaysian homes owning a television set. The 2006 Nielsen Media Index found that Astro Wah Lai Toi (Channel 30) and Astro Ria (Channel 4) are the highest viewed satellite (non free to air) channels, with each viewed by 28 percent of the adult Malaysian population. RED BUTTON FEATURE During high-profile events, Astro adds a Red-Button interactive feature to some channels to provide a link to several different feeds from the event, thereby enabling viewers to select between events or sporting matches that may be taking place simultaneously. The Red Button feature is also used to provide Interactive services such as programming updates, event news, scores, contest information and Sponsor advertising. The service is accessible by pressing the Red Button on the Set-top Box's Remote Control when prompted by a "Press Red Button" logo on-screen. The Red Button service was first used in June 2004 to provide enhanced services for the program ''Akademi Fantasia'', the localized version of Mexico's ''La Academia''. Other multi-feed/channel events using the Red Button feature: OWNERSHIP & MANAGEMENT The operators of the Astro service, MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, are a wholly owned subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks Plc , a consortium company comprising of government-linked and private companies. Major shareholders include the Usaha Tegas Group (42.7%) and Khazanah Nasional Berhad (21.6%). Astro was listed on Bursa Malaysia in October 2003 Key Personnel
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Brunei See Also: Kristal-Astro The Astro service is currently also available in Brunei under the brand Kristal-Astro . Launched in January 2000, the Brunei operations are a joint venture between Brunei company Kristal (51.1%) and Measat Broadcast Network Systems (48.9%). That service comprises 33 DTH television and radio channels. Indonesia See Also: Astro Nusantara A joint venture company, PT Direct Vision, in which Astro will hold a 20% stake, operates the Astro service in Indonesia. 48 channels including 5 locally produced Indonesia exclusive channels were launched under the Astro brand. SEE ALSO
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