Jun 29 2011, 09:58 PM
QUOTE
Astro: Price hike only for premium content
KUALA LUMPUR: Not all Astro subscribers would have to pay higher charges as a result of the price revision, which begins on July 11, its chief operating officer, Henry Tan, said.
Instead, he said, the new charges would also allow a group of its customers to enjoy savings while the prices for others would remain unchanged.
Tan said it was customers who subscribed to premium content, such as sports, who would have to pay more.
"The revision is inevitable. For premium content like sports, in particular, the cost increase can go up to 300 per cent with every renewal (each new season).
"It is unfortunate that some quarters only highlight the increase but fail to mention there are at least 25 per cent of our customers whose charges remain unaffected and another group that actually enjoys savings."
Tan was responding to a call by the Malaysian Islamic Consumers Association (PPIM) to boycott the satellite television operator for putting profit ahead of its customers.
He said Astro's content cost had increased from RM760,000 in 2007 to RM1.3b this year.
"That is a hefty increase," he said after the launch of Stadium Astro's Live It. Live, which brings subscribers live broadcasts of all 26 matches in the 2011 Copa America from Saturday to July 25.
He added that customers who did not want to pay for content could still use Astro services to watch free-to-air channels.
"For RM37.95, customers get access to 38 channels, which is about RM1.30 per day. How is that not good value?
"We are offering the customers a choice. We offer 18 packages to cater for all budgets."
Tan said Astro had rationalised the price increase with its regulators and had been open about its expenses.
"Like any business, when the cost goes up, we have to find a way of passing it on. Then, it might end up in some kind of increase."
On Monday, PPIM advisory council chairman Tunku Azwil Tunku Abdul Razak questioned Astro's move in revising it prices, claiming that up to three million customers supported the boycott.
He said the association would appeal to the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and Information, Communications and Culture Ministry to protect consumers' rights.
Meanwhile, Astro sports business head Lee Choong Khay said Live It. Live would, for the first time, bring all 26 matches to Malaysians in high-definition and a viewership exceeding 50 per cent of that for the English league was expected.
"We're expecting a fairly good viewership because it is the football season and most of the league football has stopped. This is the only big football event in July."
KUALA LUMPUR: Not all Astro subscribers would have to pay higher charges as a result of the price revision, which begins on July 11, its chief operating officer, Henry Tan, said.
Instead, he said, the new charges would also allow a group of its customers to enjoy savings while the prices for others would remain unchanged.
Tan said it was customers who subscribed to premium content, such as sports, who would have to pay more.
"The revision is inevitable. For premium content like sports, in particular, the cost increase can go up to 300 per cent with every renewal (each new season).
"It is unfortunate that some quarters only highlight the increase but fail to mention there are at least 25 per cent of our customers whose charges remain unaffected and another group that actually enjoys savings."
Tan was responding to a call by the Malaysian Islamic Consumers Association (PPIM) to boycott the satellite television operator for putting profit ahead of its customers.
He said Astro's content cost had increased from RM760,000 in 2007 to RM1.3b this year.
"That is a hefty increase," he said after the launch of Stadium Astro's Live It. Live, which brings subscribers live broadcasts of all 26 matches in the 2011 Copa America from Saturday to July 25.
He added that customers who did not want to pay for content could still use Astro services to watch free-to-air channels.
"For RM37.95, customers get access to 38 channels, which is about RM1.30 per day. How is that not good value?
"We are offering the customers a choice. We offer 18 packages to cater for all budgets."
Tan said Astro had rationalised the price increase with its regulators and had been open about its expenses.
"Like any business, when the cost goes up, we have to find a way of passing it on. Then, it might end up in some kind of increase."
On Monday, PPIM advisory council chairman Tunku Azwil Tunku Abdul Razak questioned Astro's move in revising it prices, claiming that up to three million customers supported the boycott.
He said the association would appeal to the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and Information, Communications and Culture Ministry to protect consumers' rights.
Meanwhile, Astro sports business head Lee Choong Khay said Live It. Live would, for the first time, bring all 26 matches to Malaysians in high-definition and a viewership exceeding 50 per cent of that for the English league was expected.
"We're expecting a fairly good viewership because it is the football season and most of the league football has stopped. This is the only big football event in July."
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/11gtro/Article/
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