Looks like there is an hidden agenda, they get the licence then take off but they retain mobile services,look at mitv they retain u mobile,now YTL but they retain yes !I wonder what about Nilamas but nilamas has no mobile services!

I doubt they wl move to MPEG4,we are doomed with whatever they decide to give, they are just phasing out old decorders and trying to save space so that they need not hve 2 versions of one channel.

PETALING JAYA: Nilamas Corp Bhd is set to showcase a team that will take on giant Astro All Asia Networks plc in the battle for eyeballs in the local pay-TV market.

The market will be demanding answers from Nilamas as to how it can take on Astro when other players in the past have failed to do so.

Astro may also not be the only player that Nilamas has to slug it out with, as content is now even pushed through by traditional telecom companies, which also are owners of fibre optic and wireless networks, and Internet protocol television (IPTV) players. These include Telekom Malaysia Bhd ™, RedTone International Bhd and Maxis Bhd, which expects to launch its IPTV offering soon.


Sreedhar Subramaniam.
Tomorrow, Nilamas is expected to unveil at an event the details of its plan to offer an interactive digital cable-TV service, providing entertainment and interactive educational services to the Malaysian market.

At the same event, the company is expected to launch its brand and announce the name of the new entity, said to be Asian Broadcasting Network (M) Sdn Bhd, that is projected to drive the digital cable TV business.

Sources added that Sreedhar Subramaniam had been appointed chief executive officer and director of the digital cable TV network. They said he and his team had to make sure the targeted service launch date of second quarter 2012 would be kept. Sreedhar was formerly CEO and co-founder of Malaysian Insider and prior to that, he was chief operating officer at NTV7.

Thus far Nilamas had hired about 20 people and that included some technical experts from India, the sources said.

Along with Sreedhar, it is believed that Anne Edwards has also been appointed producer for economic news and Michael Chan senior vice-president for sales. Chan was formerly with Maxis and prior to that, ntv7 and Astro.

Nilamas has secured all the requisite licences from the Government to offer digital cable TV service. Under its various licences, it is allowed to offer broadcasting services for a fee. The licences are valid for five years.

The set-up cost for the cable network offering is expected to be RM2bil over five years, according to sources, and Nilamas may be looking at a 40:60 equity-debt combination to finance its venture.

The broadcasting centre will be in Puchong, Selangor, and its directors and shareholders are Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, Tan Sri Mohamad Noor Abdul Rahim and Datuk Nik Mohd Amin.

It intends to offer a variety of content, both entertainment and educational, and will create its own content besides buying from abroad.

The question is how will the company be able to offer content that is exclusive to Astro?

Nilamas has been talking to many content providers and it would only begin signing contracts for content purchases after launching its brand.

The company intends to use fibre optics for its backhaul which will be leased from network operators such as TM, Time dotCom Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Fiberail and Fibercom.

Nilamas may consider rolling out its own last-mile fibre optic cables to reach homes.

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Added on November 14, 2011, 4:28 pmsomeone in wiki said starworld hd in december !!!

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Added on November 14, 2011, 4:32 pmLooks like we can expect somethings new from astro soon, cos astro has to rise to face the music,its days in comfort are gone,so I guess next month may see new channels.

This post has been edited by smileguy: Nov 14 2011, 04:32 PM

I think astro is a santa claus organisation,its a coward organisation living solely on life long exclusive rights and contracts.As more international fare is pushed through by unifi and hopefully Nilamas astro wl be out of the golden era,with only sports fans holding on!

The deal looks like for sports only ESPN wl be the main while rest wl be assp,there seems to be no plans or the deal is they cannot allow other sports channels like ASN,Setanta,nba .....this is how astro plays its game !

try replacing batteries first, then look around for any astro installers nearby buy one,somr electrical shopsdo hv pirated on,use first.

Bro, keep us updated cos u get news firsthand!!!!!

Ori RM50 pirate 30+ check out the nearest astro dealer buy original one !

whatever they give i wl terminate astro just to show my hatred and frustrations, i hope and pray they go Nationwide!

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Added on November 16, 2011, 11:32 amyes bro the monopoly MUST end at all costs.

This post has been edited by smileguy: Nov 16 2011, 11:32 AM

Government Encourages Competition In Pay TV Sector - Rais

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The government encourages competition in the provision of pay television broadcast to avoid monopoly by some in the industry, said Information Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

He said this is based on provisions of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Act 1998 where monopolistic practices, including television entertainment content, will not happen.

Instead, the industry will grow with the emergence of Asian Broadcasting Network (ABN) which will start its broadcast in second quarter 2012 using fibre optic cable system.

"The launch of ABN will encourage the proliferation of content. I am convinced that digital cable television service will become popular as it stresses on reasonable pricing, excellent service, good quality and comply with our laws," he told reporters after launching ABN here.

Rais said special broadcasts such as world cup football and important events should not be dominated by one party as they are common property and the broadcast should be shared.

"We need to see content as the right of the people where broadcasting of big football or badminton events are not controlled by one party." Asked whether ABN can compete with Astro, he said the pay TV operators should not compete but succeed based on their special qualities.

"Astro programmes are broadcasted via satellite while ABN programmes are broadcasted via fibre optic cable system ," he added.

ABN is confident of attracting 500,000 customers in the first year of broadcast and is projecting 3mil customers after five years of operation.

It also aims to capture 15 percent market share in the first year and reach 40 percent market share by the fifth year.

-- BERNAMA

the best of all no more monopoly of channels and offerings,this is what i want,the good days are over friend!

This post has been edited by smileguy: Nov 16 2011, 03:01 PM