[SIZE=7]Astro exploring more targeted advertising using set-top box data

Tags: advertising | Astro | Astro B.yond high-definition

Written by Kathleen Tan
Thursday, 06 May 2010 00:00

ASTRO is exploring the possibility of providing more targeted advertising solutions for its clients based on audience and measurement data from its set-top boxes.

Speaking at Astro’s Future of Advertising industry event on April 30, Henry Tan, Astro chief operating officer of strategy, content and marketing, said that the current audience measurement system did not accurately reflect and measure the performance of multi-channel providers such as Astro, as it was “designed in an era of free-to-air (FTA) television and favours FTA TV stations”.

“We are prepared to invest but we need a fairer system to accurately measure TV viewership in a multi-channel environment — a measurement tool that is robust and ready for how TV viewing has changed in Malaysia. Without numbers, the media plan can’t win the battle of scrutiny,” he said.

Asked if Astro would charge for the audience measurement data, Tan said Astro had no immediate plans or details on the implementation of the technology or the terms of usage for the audience measurement data.

He added that Astro was currently focusing on its soon-to-be launched personal video recorder and video-on-demand services.
Tan said Astro would be launching its personal video recorder or digital video recorder (DVR) services this month, followed by video-on-demand services later on. It launched Astro B.yond high-definition (HD) services in December last year.
He said Astro had the ability to fuse all data sources into data insights — “who is watching what, when, at which address and what their shopping habits are”.

However, media agencies, while welcoming Astro’s new initiative, expressed concern that the audience measurement data services would be offered at a premium.

“While the initiative is a positive one for the ad industry, media agencies’ profit margins are currently under pressure, hence the concerns of additional overhead costs in obtaining new audience measurement data,” said Vizeum Malaysia CEO Andy Miller in a phone interview yesterday.

Agreed!

Good News! but I'm more concern on the cost incurred for both external HDD and new PVR decoder. Any hints Justin?

I hope the new PVR will be much more stable than the Astro Max as I'm still keeping it aside since last December.

I didn't surrender it because it cost more than "RM80". Hope this decision are right.

By the way, will Astro remove your Astro Max for waiver of the Installation Fees?

Astro B.Yond FAQ:
How do I sign up for Astro B.yond Box?

You may click here to subscribe online, call Astro Customer Service at 1300 82 3838 or visit an Astro service centre, to get the new Astro B.yond Box and subscribe to the High-Definition service.
Existing Astro Customers:
Astro customers can swap out your current Astro box with the new Astro B.yond Box by clicking here to subscribe online or by calling Astro customer Service on 1300 82 3838.
You will receive the Astro B.yond Box, a new smartcard, a new outdoor dish unit (ODU), new remote control, and HDMI cables free of charge, on the condition that you return your current Astro box and commit to take up the high definition channels at RM20.00 per month, for a minimum of 12 months, which will allow you to enjoy the high definition channels of the standard definition channels available on your current subscription. If you want to keep your current Astro box, you are required to pay a RM100.00 standard installation fee.
Once you have confirmed your interest and agree to the Terms & Condition, we will process your requests accordingly on a first come, first served basis.Please note that Astro Max will not be swapped out.
New customers:
If you are new to Astro and would like to get the new Astro B.yond Box and subsequently view the high definition channels, you will have to sign up to the current Astro standard definition packages while we process your application for the new Astro B.yond Box.
You will be given the standard definition Astro box, complete with the free standard installation, while waiting for the new Astro B.yond Box. Once the Astro B.yond Box is available, we will call you to arrange for an exchange.
You will receive the Astro B.yond Box, a new smartcard, a new outdoor dish unit (ODU), a new remote control, and HDMI cables free of charge on the condition that you return the other Astro box, remote control, smartcard, ODU and commit to take up the high definition channels at RM20.00 per month for a minimum of 12 months, which will allow you to enjoy the high definition channels of the standard definition channels available on your current subscription.

This post has been edited by dannychen: May 30 2010, 05:36 PM

May be your installer fork out his RM 80 and keep the Astro Max for his own use.

I said this because they can either keep it for their own use or sell it to someone else at higher cost. For example, RM150 or etc.

Astro Byond PVR roadshow
North Court,
Ground Floor
1-6 Jun 2010
Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur

This post has been edited by dannychen: May 31 2010, 12:08 PM

Option 1) Buy a external HDD (RM299.00) and install it, recording fees RM10.00 / month
Option 2) Buy a new PVR RM300.00, recording fees RM 10.00 / month.

AstroMax subscriber can choose Option 2 with waiver of RM 300.00 but still have to pay RM10 / month.

Option 1) 320GB HDD
Option 2) 500GB HDD

As you said, its difference by RM1.00.

RM300.00 all inclusive with recording monthly fees of RM10.00. CS said they will change the whole set just like they have done it for B.Yond in December 2009.

My Passport AV
Portable Media Drives
320 GB, USB interface

Performance Specifications
Serial Transfer Rate
USB 2.0
Serial Bus Transfer Rate (USB 2.0) 480 Mb/s (Max)


Physical Specifications
Capacity 320 GB
Interface USB 2.0


Physical Dimensions
English
Height 0.60 Inches
Length 5.0 Inches
Width 3.10 Inches
Weight 0.40 Pounds

Metric
Height 16.0 mm
Length 126.0 mm
Width 80.0 mm
Weight 0.18 kg


Environmental Specifications
Temperature (English)
Operating 41° F to 95° F
Non-operating -4° F to 149° F

Temperature (Metric)
Operating 5° C to 40° C
Non-operating -20° C to 65° C