This is not surprising and not something new.

Indeed Astro are already under transitioning to B.yond platform since years ago as B.yond STBs support newer and modern features, unlike the legacy STB. Astro already discontinued support and stop production of the legacy STBs, so if customer's legacy STB is having problems or faulty, the STB will be replaced with B.yond STB straight away, not repair or whatsoever. Sooner or later, Astro will phase out and discontinue use the legacy STBs and all customers have to use B.yond box to continue watching Astro.

Of course, Astro loves to "kill 2 birds with 1 stone". Astro will take this opportunity to encourage customers to take HD service, since the customers is already upgrading from legacy STBs. So Astro can gain additional profit from HD service fee for RM26.50/month or Basic HD (also known as Family HD) for RM18.02/month. Plus, now HD service (RM26.50/month) are now bundled with PVR recording service (known as HD-PVR service). And don't forget, 12 months contract for B.yond HD STB, 24 months contract for B.yond PVR STB.

If I'm not mistaken, installation fee is lower (or even free) if customer choose to take HD compared to the ones that just upgrade decoder without taking HD.

2 years contract is for customers using PVR STB, or using Astro IPTV service.

If you use B.yond HD STB, it is 1 year contract.

I got the info about this.



Source: https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/media/astro...dicators?page=1

Do note that the article above is published on 2014. If you would say 2016, I would assume that more than 90% subscribers are already using B.yond STB.

Haha interesting

Wah RM 500 huh??
That's quite a lot

Oh thanks..
Well its sure 90%+ now...
If that the figure, then no problem for astro to go fully HD channels for add on package.. I know cannot go 100% as they don't have enough satellite capacity

Not enough satellite bandwidth capacity? Measat 3b has as much as 48 Ku band transponders. It is a bogus if you say Astro do not have enough satellite capacity.

It is obvious to say that Astro is "use less while customer pay more". They can choose to offer a lot of HD channels, but they take their sweet time, slowly release HD channels. Why? Monopoly. There's no reason for them to quickly pushing more HD channels because there's no other pay TV competitors that could provide "good and well known channels among pay channels industry" as Astro.

I would say, Measat and Astro is a crony.

Oh they got the capacity? Because I did read saying not enough capacity crap something like that previously..

Then true what u said.. Useless company..ripoff customers..
Should demand change to fully HD now instead of doing own sweet time

i have no more contract. but i still subscribe to astro because i want to watch tvb old drama. not new one but old one. haha

Astro just like Maxis which the different company but provide different service but same boss

Then for what astro to use the Measat 3b all 18 Ku band transponder they said
All 48 Ku band just useless since Dec 2014 where astro launch only 8 HD channel which good but little. At that time Astro also increase HD subscribe from RM20 to RM25. Yeah i read on wikipedia the launch of Measat 3b will allow Astro to provide more than 100 HD channel but what happen now. Right now about 55 HD channel only. Very enjoy their place right now. Already 2016 and almost 2 years 15 years lifespan of Measat 3b which close in maybe 2029 or 2030. At that time maybe other company already challenge Astro

Just hope maybe in 2017 or atleast 2020 already have competion which is good for customer. When that time happen Astro kaw kaw to offer good HD channel and pricing. Just what Maxis did when lose more than 1 million customer
But yeah new company but can they offer good channel like Astro such as AXN HD, FOX HD. And don't forget Astro don't care with kids channel to upgrade to HD. I like to watch some cartoon in BM dub like The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time and other. And still no Cartoon Network HD

Internet in Malaysia already have but fixed line internet still monopoly by TM. Also heard rumour that TM want to merge with Astro
TM semua mahu sailang lepas ni apa lagi

Previously when Measat 3b haven't launch on Sept 2014, indeed the satellite bandwidth capacity is full on Measat 3 and Measat 3a. But now Measat 3b is already operational and Astro is using it, but Astro did not quickly roll out more HD channels as you expected. They take their sweet time to release HD channels, and even introduces some stupid a la carte channels instead of included in existing packages like Boo HD for RM6.35/month so that they can earn profit.

Currently only Astro and Transvision, one of Indonesian pay TV is utilising Measat 3b. So far no any pay TV or TV stations interested to rent on Measat 3b Ku band satellite transponders, so the rest of transponders is inactive for now.

Rest assured there will be NO competitors for assteruk, their only killer will be cheap super fast broadband,good internet is all needed to KIV assteruk! Maxis pulled out so did TM ,astro channels on Hyppo were removed! Now maybe a new JV whereby astro channels wl also be delivered via unifi

This post has been edited by smileguy: Dec 2 2016, 03:17 PM

Some transponders not use. What a waste
They should use some transponder to provide temporary HD channel for EPL league.
Hike the price but to provide atleast 5 temporary HD channel also cannot
Then for what Measat 3b launch
Also heard Measat already planning to launch Measat 3c soon when they announced Measat 3b launching last years

This post has been edited by Anime in HD: Dec 2 2016, 03:30 PM

I know the owner is same.. but when I look closely, seems like gomen have some share around 20% like that.. which also means if Astro dies, so does gomen investment

and yeah, they should utilize the capacity. launch more HD channels.. simply doing it slowly as there's no other competitors actually there's already so many source / feeds in HD, can just take few more in.. but no they do own sweet time

I really hope gomen will allow more new pay TV operators eventho they got stake in Astro.. hope that they won't extend anymore the "exclusive agreement" if not gg lor

well it's such a waste they not utilizing to the max they should at least use it to launch more HD channels, but hey they instead like u said introduces la carte channels which additional charges

Anyone notice that FYI HD(CH736) have downgrade to SD quality

Reminder.

Hello unker

Nobody watch the channel i guess

Measat 3b launch isn't necessary means it is for Astro entirely, you know?

Measat launch the satellite is to do satellite service business. Whichever TV station or pay TV wants to distribute their channel/services via satellite, Measat 3b will be an option for it. Of course, there are many other competitors in the market, such as Asiasat, ABS, Chinasat, Thaicom, etc. Different satellite company with different satellites among others brings choice to the TV station. (Damn this is going off topic, again)

Whether Astro want to use the transponders to provide the channels there, is all up to them. Like I told you, they can "pay/use less" for themselves but we customers are the one that paying money to them, so they can gain profit. See, monopoly business is very unhealthy to the market. If the company plays monopoly, for sure the customers will suffer with "pay more but get less" issue.

Measat 3c is meant to replace the existing Measat 3 satellite that will be retiring on 2020.