KUALA LUMPUR: Declaring that Malaysian consumers are clearly dissatisfied with their TV services and costs, conglomerate YTL gives incumbent Astro warning that it is going after the digital TV market that thus far has been fiercely controlled by Astro.

The first step was taken yesterday when YTL Communications Sdn Bhd signed a licence and services agreement with US-based Sezmi Corporation, giving YTL Communications Sdn Bhd the rights to deploy hybrid TV service in Malaysia and throughout Asia Pacific. Malaysia will become the first in the world to launch a nationwide wireless hybrid TV service by the end of 2011.

Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, managing director of YTL Corp Bhd and executive chairman of YTL Communications, said: “We are making Malaysians pay too much for too many things.” This includes broadband, mobile services and satellite TV.

He says YTL aims to change that even though it is facing world-class competition. “I can be very competitive when I have to,” Yeoh declares in an interview.

Sezmi is a provider of complete hybrid television solutions. The Sezmi platform and expertise enable service providers to rapidly deliver next- generation television services over cheaper broadband infrastructure.

Sezmi CEO Buno Pati says while it costs Verizon in the US about US$2,000 (RM6,200) to pass through a house with its fibre, it costs Sezmi between 25 US cents and 50 US cents to connect a house in the same market, not by costly fibre but with a high-speed wireless networkIn Malaysia, the wireless network will be in place on Nov 18, when YTL launches its 4G high-speed network, which thus far has cost it around RM1 billion. That will be the infrastructure through which YTL will deliver its mobile TV and fixed TV service by the end of next year, adding to the voice and broadband services it will launch next month. This will then “transform Malaysia into a leading operational hub for digital media and television broadcasting, capable of serving the region,” says Yeoh.

When this happens by the end of next year, Yeoh believes it will also catapult Malaysia into becoming the world’s most advanced nation for communications services by then.

YTL Communications CEO Wing K Lee calls it “the world’s first, fully converged wireless quadruple-play country”.

The service that YTL will bring together with Sezmi will require new devices, equipment, content and applications which will be developed and manufactured in Malaysia. At the same time, it will also drive foreign direct investment (FDI) from world-class partners while creating export opportunities of know-how and manufactured goods to service providers throughout the region.

Yeoh points out that YTL has assembled a world-class team and is working with world-class partners such as Cisco, Samsung, Ericsson and a leading OEM manufacturer in the world.

YTL’s quad play aims to take advantage of the convergence between broadcast and Internet that is fast becoming a mega trend. Besides smart phones, the TV is the perfect device for broadband services which includes video as in developing countries, TV sets are significantly more prevalent than computers.

Hence, YTL aims to deliver broadband through a TV screen connected to its 4G network.

Mitv was motivated they came and went they were supposed to come and go !! U cannot make it if u cant go nationwide in one go, Mitv failed here ! Detv is failing too with only chinese fare. Finetv no comments !

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Added on October 14, 2010, 6:26 amDont u think cable is cheaper and better then satelite, I still remember Megatv for that !

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Added on October 14, 2010, 6:31 amWell said short and straight to the point, cannot go nationwide cannot bring international fare best close shop ! Now we are sick of asian crap , someone has to bring international channels no more asian versions please !

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 14 2010, 06:34 AM

That wld be the day for us to shout and claim Rakyat diutamakan !!! DREAM !! For that we must first strip the thing called Exclusive rights given for 10. 15 and 20 years, wld that happen !

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Added on October 14, 2010, 11:54 amWat Sezmi has anyway ?

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 14 2010, 11:54 AM

international business there but home users not important for these suckers ! the installer was directed so !

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 14 2010, 05:51 PM

6% tax is new from 2011 we wl pay 6% tax like what we pay for other bills like phone i.e if your bill was RM50 now u pay RM56, we need money u see to construct 100 storey buildings to house ghosts like the twin towers !, the next election looks fatal !! There are loopholes too, astro should only impose tax on the basic subscription bill to be fair not on HD fees, PVR fees..........here anything goes and is accepted at the end !!

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 16 2010, 07:11 AM

oops that was technical or perhaps very disgusted !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shld hv been RM53 !

Its a different scenario at fast foods u pay 6% service tax not to be served but for self service WTF ! Nobody complains they hv all the patience to que and pay ! God bless this nation !

Yes the old decorders are phased out now all new subscribers get Beyond Box. The demand for HD seems not that great bcos the basic pack alone with HD is almost RM60 with service Tax !

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 17 2010, 05:39 PM

PERHAPS JUST A VERSION UPDATE FEATURES NOT AVAILIABLE YET

Enough of crap, getting sick of reality shows !

who is this fellow eric who replies on astro FB ?

About the software update pls read the silly reply from FB which says its for improved viewing xperience!

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Added on October 20, 2010, 4:22 pmMTV is heavily censored and its too much Asian, now I miss channel V !

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 20 2010, 04:26 PM

Good, keep us updated,thanks

They never listen to our reasoning, soon public toilets too need to pay service tax ! Astro has 3 million subscribers imagine what is 6 %, shld be enough to start constructing Warisan Tower !

Even now its unclear why we pay service tax at fast food and not the operators infact they make money they shld pay why are we paying ? Like phone bills we use we pay tax right ?

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 21 2010, 10:44 AM

Here rotten eggs too get sold cos we hv no choice do we ?
Astro PQ was never good it was of VCD quality and now even some HD channels are not that real HD anyway! Indian SD PQ has become worst then ever before !

But when u bring it up NEVER they hve said what we said,they got a different story most popular one is, "its the feed we get from channel concerned which is not under our control"
We can never win them ! Start a cut off sports pack campaingn, that wld teach them a lesson all we need at least 5000 to cut off sports pack !

Yes why not we all get as many to sign forward the petition if no reponse within one month we all give auto instruction to cut off sports pack


Look at this reply: The standard FB format !

Hi Bardia, the programming of ESPNEWS is controlled by the channels themselves and not Astro. However we will forward your request to ESPN for their attention.

Just wished it wasnt a religious channel so all can enjoy ! Owner ? Something to do with the ruling party of course !

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 22 2010, 10:13 AM

U mean measat 3 cannot cope with more banwidths ?

Discovery HD, maybe for IPTV ! Another thing what for so many HD if PQ gets from bad to worst !

This post has been edited by smileguy: Oct 22 2010, 03:01 PM

There wl be a one and only special temprorary Deepavali HD channel OLI HD on 222, most likely wl rerun earlier HD programmes , thats the biggest offer for the Indian communtity this deepavali!

The way i see they are short of channels space why always one channel has to close and one starts ? Experts pls explain !