This is the most boring channel in England!

Well..I have this opinion..
Its my opinion only and dont take it too seriously..
I think for the past couple of months Astro has upped their game..a bit lah..
Maybe they suddenly realised they're not the only one in business right now..
They have TM IPTV and also DETV..Maybe not on the same level as them but still competition..
If I remember correctly, Astro actually rebranded around the same time as MiTV was to launch..
So my feeling is once Astro feel they have competition, they will up their game a bit..
N maybe kick their competitor out of business
Remember MEGA TV and MitV anyone?

Astro introduced Byond HD TV programming in December just before TM were to unveil HSBB and IPTV..
TM were supposed to launch it in January I think
Then they launch ESPN HD to woo EPL fans

They thought everything was fine until they had that 'Stretch mode/Pillar Box' issue
N rather surprisingly they have listened to customers who wanted stretch mode back..
Even though it was against 'International Standards'
They even had F1 Upscaled HD even though no where in the world F1 available in HD..still upscaled though

They launch a new channel today Astro Arena
It has been put into the Family Package instead of the Sports Package
So this channel will be available to all their subscribers
This channel is to showcase Malaysian athletes in Sports
It will also show Malaysian Premier League matches to compete with RTM
N the Commonwealth Games from India this September is also on this channel

Now in the same week as TM launch IPTV, we get news they have snapped up Discovery HD..
A most wanted channel with their customers..
N even though Granada TV is a boring channel, they have extended the free viewing date
Was supposed to be until 20th March but its still continued
Until further notice

So my opinion is, we will be getting better things from Astro if they have competition..
Thats my opinion anyways..
I wont be switching over to any other company yet..
Coz everything I want is on Astro..
So Im hoping better things still to come..
AXN HD maybe?

One final note though..
ESPN HD only showing EPL and Champions League weekly
Plus F1 and Tennis occasionally
They only show repeats once a day from 7pm-11pm
What the heck are they gonna show once the football season ends?
Repeats at the same time? 7-11pm?
F1 is once every two weeks or some times two straight weeks and then 3 week break..
Tennis Wilmbledon and French Open is in May and July
Yes there is the World Cup, but ESPN HD will have nothing?
They better start getting rights for many other sports in HD like NBA or MLB..just to fill their programming
Repeats of the best EPL matches this season would be good too..

This post has been edited by dxjb: Mar 26 2010, 06:25 PM

My suggestions is Astro SuperSport HD should aired some upscaled local sport game.

This post has been edited by Qash-M: Mar 26 2010, 06:14 PM

1 will be coming...

Better than HD channel on Unifail IPTV?

This post has been edited by Qash-M: Mar 26 2010, 06:48 PM

That makes 6. #7 will most likely be the second in house channel (ASSP HD is the first. It will be the third if you count in ESPN HD tho).

Three times better.

SD channels, however...

The former failed to expand. The latter think they can sell their decoders at unbelievable price just because they're new (read: bad planning and wrong assumptions).

And btw, TM-IPTV and DETV are not the only competitors. We also have FineTV which is also unbelievable - few in-house channels only sumore want RM200++? What? (yes, I've never heard of them either until I saw it in Wiki)

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 26 2010, 07:22 PM

why don't they just upscale the current ESPN feed... although they should really do that on ESPNHD


sounds like subscribers are being fined

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Mar 26 2010, 07:53 PM

F1 on ESPN HD upscaled for now...

This post has been edited by Qash-M: Mar 26 2010, 08:10 PM

Example: see Sun DTH, they offer free dmt and dish and kaboom!! 2 million customers in 2 yrs!

I hope Astro launches the first HD channel in Malay...

Actually it is true.

Sometimes people prefer FREE things then only you get good response.

At the end, the profit is from the subscriptions of all customers for long term.

If they give free decoder, dish etc, all these are small matters and can earn back from long term subscriptions.

That's business.

Astro Ria HD maybe...
but Malay programme HD sources are so limited I think...
maybe most of the programme will be upscale version...

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Added on March 26, 2010, 9:26 pmnow astro are doing like that for byond subscribers isn't it?
We actually only "rent" the decoder from astro.... and astro will "tanggung" all the problem regarding the decoder....

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Mar 26 2010, 09:26 PM

I heard a romour that AF last concert they do it on HD...

It's good that astro will take the burden of our b.yond decoder

yes... Astro said that they will shoot AF8 final concert in HD....
Now, AF8 already 2 weeks started... so, just 8 weeks leave...
will wait and see on the weeks 10....

when will ASP2 have HD? i wanna watch all the tennis matches in HD

Astro probably wont have ASP2..
but most likely if they have tennis it will probably show up on ASP HD right now..
If they had it already, they would probably have shown it..
But I think, the French Open and US Open could be on ASP HD..
Wimbledon would be on ESPN HD since its on Star Sports..
Same as Australian Open..
Damn Astro launch ESPN HD after Ana Ivanovic was eliminated

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Added on March 26, 2010, 10:40 pmIf true Astro wanna show AF Final in HD, they should have a channel by then..
I don't think RIA HD would be a good idea since theres not that many Malay programmes in HD currently
A variety channel perhaps? Astro Variety HD sounds good..
In house Astro channel
Music, film, drama, would be on it..

If true AF Final in HD, we're looking at another potential channel maybe in June perhaps?

This post has been edited by dxjb: Mar 26 2010, 10:42 PM

Yea, but they only show Grand slams,

For ESPN HD, it is normal to have empty hour slot (5-6+ hour) since we're the first to watch it. When other Asia have ESPN HD, then more sport program are available. Right?

a few of reasons why not to,

It is ESPN's channel not Astro's, Therefore it is ESPN's call.
What is the point of up-scaling a 100% 4:3 channel? You will be not get a wide screen image and you won't be able to change the AR to fit to Screen
Waste of transponder space.
Probably the most important reason...You guys would complain about.

i am here very happy with ASTRO ARENA.. finally more option to watch local football...

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Added on March 26, 2010, 11:30 pmJustin... i wonder if you have any idea about ASTRO ARENA camera facility capacity?

can they, for example, silmuteniously shoot and record 8 MSL Match in different venue and compile a good higlight show with all the goals scored in the week..

do they have the enough camea and manpower?

This post has been edited by aressandro10: Mar 26 2010, 11:30 PM

Mr. TallJustin is back!

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Added on March 26, 2010, 11:43 pmTo Sifu TallJustin, When you will update yr blog? and Discovery HD 1st April??

This post has been edited by azrin_kiko: Mar 26 2010, 11:43 PM