Not their fault. The government decide this.

Exactly. Cartoon Network HD, Fox Sport 2 & 3 HD etc have been on Astro's Wikipedia page for so long yet they never see the light of day until now.

The article talked about how their ARPU has increased. Everyone knows how to increase ARPU if subscription fees increase on yearly basis. Just recently, Golf Channel was removed From Sport Pack.

Hoping that MYTV will not be another failed project. About 2 months before it launch, the company is mysteriously silent on the progress of the project apart from the news that the set top box will be sold at RM200 (and given for free to selected BR1M recipients). I have to agree that ASTRO has to depend on its premium content (Sport, Movies etc) in the future to keep its customer base. With GST & increasing prices, many are planning either to unsubscribe or cutting down their monthly packages.

Will it succeed like UK's Freesat is still anybody's guess. But with Astro signing more exclusive deals with content providers, what's left for MYTV? Whatever not on Astro are taken by Hypp TV while the remainders are taken by Abnxcess.

They are still considering whether to absorb the tax or pass it to the customers. Based on the news report, out of 4.4 million subscribers, only 348,000 subscribe to SuperPack. This means that subscription of premium services represents a minor part of Astro's total customer base. Will hanging onto premium service help them to face customer sensitive price sentiment post-GST? They've done so by removing Golf Channel from the Sport Pack and offering it at the exorbitant rate of RM50/month to keep the cash flowing.

THE prices of goods and services should not be going up a full 6% once the Goods and Services Tax (GST) kicks in come April 1, says the Customs Department, adding that the resulting impact on household expenditure should be an increase of just 0.58% to 1%.

Its GST director Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy says this is due to the nature of the GST, which allows businesses to pass cost savings down the supply chain by claiming for their input costs.

Giving an example, he says that based on Customs’ projections, Astro’s prices, which currently have a 6% service tax, should come down as it would enjoy more cost savings.

“Astro’s input costs which are currently not claimable would become claimable. So the cost of doing business will come down a little and I expect a slight drop in prices. The extent of savings would depend on the type of business,” he tells The Star.

Subromaniam says businesses also currently pay the 6% service tax for their costs such as audit fees, as well as 10% for goods such as furniture and office equipment, all of which are not claimable under the current tax system.

“As for water and Astro, our computation shows that there should be 0.72% and 0.64% savings respectively,” he said, noting that this was despite Astro being a standard-rated service.

However, once the GST kicks in, he points out that any costs related to business would be claimable as input tax and businesses would be able to save costs this way.

It's Day 1 of GST's implementation and NO, ASTRO is not cutting the subscription fees down, instead additional 6% is now attached to PVR & On-the-GO subscription which were previously not subject to tax. You get it all wrong, sir.

This post has been edited by izwanikhsan: Apr 1 2015, 07:43 AM

Same here. Sometimes it records only half way, sometimes there is pixelation despite clear weather when the program is being recorded.

Upgrade in term of what?
1. Channel offering?
2. New package?
3. Reduction in subscription fees?

Were they pressed by the impending launch of MYTV? Did they feel the heat when many people downgrading their subscription/ converting to NJOI/ terminating their contract as a chain effect of GST?

This post has been edited by izwanikhsan: Apr 12 2015, 08:21 AM

It's so sad that customers need to beg to pay TV provider to broadcast the upcoming star studded boxing match.

NEW VALUE PACK 5 FOR K-POP & MOVIE LOVERS


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Have to subscribe to Superpack 1 + Korean Pack to enjoy more saving.

It is. I can see some programmes produced and shown in media prima channels before (mad markets, best in the one and travel show with Henry Goulding) The channel has no program information though. It shows Go Asean all the time on the channel bar

Astro Bersedia Runding Pembelian Konten Berikutan Penyusutan Ringgit
KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Jun (Bernama) -- Berikutan penyusutan ringgit, Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd bersedia untuk berunding mengenai pembelian konten antarabangsa daripada rakan kongsinya.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Datuk Rohana Rozhan berkata, 60 peratus kos kontennya dibayar melalui dolar US.

"Kami membelanjakan kira-kira RM1.7 bilion ke atas konten antarabangsa dan tempatan setiap tahun, terutama program dan sukan antarabangsa," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas mesyuarat agung tahunan syarikat itu di sini, hari ini.

Menurut Rohana, keadaan sekarang masih boleh diuruskan syarikat kerana ia mempunyai hubungan jangka panjang dengan rakan kongsi antarabangsa.

Ringgit diniagakan tinggi sedikit berbanding dolar US pada sesi pagi ini pada 3.7400.

Astro telah memperuntukkan RM300 juta sebagai perbelanjaan modal tahun ini untuk infrastruktur transponder. Ia menerima tujuh transponder KU-band (frekuensi satelit) baru-baru ini.

Sementara itu, untung sebelum cukai Astro pada suku pertama berakhir 30 April 2015 meningkat kepada RM230.42 juta berbanding RM168.28 juta pada tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.

Pendapatannya meningkat kepada RM1.33 bilion berbanding RM1.25 bilion sebelum ini, terutama disebabkan peningkatan langganan serta iklan.

-- BERNAMA[QUOTE]

Will this eventually mean weakened ringgit = price hike??[SIZE=7][COLOR=red]

This post has been edited by izwanikhsan: Jun 17 2015, 11:49 PM

Bad management of the economy = weakened ringgit vs USD = higher content price = price hike. The vicious cycle of the domino's effect.

“Also, Astro plans to introduce more high-definition (HD) channels this year, following the addition of seven new transponders recently,” it said. THE STAR

[COLOR=blue][B]Finally it's time for more HD channels following the fact that 7 transponders are fully operational.

TRANSVISION (INDONESIA) USES MEASAT3B BEFORE ASTRO




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However, weaknesses in Astro’s key statistics allude to the difficulties ahead, mainly due to the low consumer sentiment as they adjust to the new GST tax.

- 1Q churn grew slightly higher to 10.3% (vs. 9.9% previously) which saw Pay TV subscribers decline by 5k. ARPU still stood at RM99, while its high margin Superpack subscribers deteriorated by 8000.

-SOURCE: AMRESEARCH

Coming soon - Astro Cricket HD and Sport Focus Pack

Astro Launches WWE, Cricket And Setanta Sports Channels
July 30, 2015

Astro, the home of all sports, today announced the launch of WWE Network, SETANTA Sports HD and Cricket HD channels to bring nonstop coverage for sports fans in Malaysia. WWE Network and SETANTA Sports HD are available for subscription now while Astro Cricket HD will be launched in the 3rd quarter of 2015.
WWE Network is available in SD (Channel 820) and HD (Channel 840) at only RM10.60 per month for Astro Sports Pack subscribers. It is also available for NJOI customers at RM15.90 for 3 days access and RM31.80 for 30 days access. WWE Network offers all 12 WWE monthly special events like BattleGround, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and others LIVE at no additional charge and access to 24/7 programming featuring groundbreaking original series, classic matches, documentaries, reality shows, exclusive coverage of special events and video on demand content every month, including past WWE monthly special events.
SETANTA SPORTS HD (Channel 839) is also priced at RM10.60 per month and showcases rugby’s finest programming lineup in HD. Rugby fans can enjoy the world class rugby games and tournaments like the RBS 6 Nations, Rugby Championship, British & Irish Lions Australia Tour, Super Rugby, NRL and other exciting tournaments and programmes.
Meanwhile, Cricket HD (Channel 838) will be available at RM26.50 per month and brings the best cricket action from all over the world in HD, featuring coverage of major cricket events such as ICC World T20, ICC Champions Trophy, ICC Women's World Cup, ICC Intercontinental Cup, ICC World Cricket and League Championship, among others.
Lee Choong Khay, Astro’s Head of Sports Business said, “For the first time, fans of WWE, rugby and cricket will be able to watch their favourite sports on dedicated channels in HD, offering the best LIVE events, the latest news and original programmes at unbeatable value. The initial feedback from the WWE, rugby and cricket communities in Malaysia has been positive. We will continue to engage with them to further grow the fan base on these channels.”
With the launch of the new sports channels, Astro now has in total 14 sports channels providing unbeatable coverage on football, tennis, badminton, hockey, motorsports, golf, rugby, cricket, WWE and many more. All sports channels are also available on Astro on the Go for sports fans to catch their favourite sports anytime, anywhere.
Dato' Wira Amiruddin Embi, President of Malaysian Rugby Union said, “SETANTA Sports HD will give the fans unlimited access to rugby games 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which will help educate and promote the game further to give the sport a bigger fan base and also to create interest to potential talents as well as expose everyone who is passionate about the sport to top level rugby showcased every day.”
Mahinda Vallipuram, President of Malaysian Cricket Association said, "The advent of a 24 hour cricket channel in Malaysia is set to bring about an important step for the development of the game of cricket in Malaysia. Malaysian Cricket Association fully supports this move and commits to work with Astro to grow the interest in the sport. I would like to congratulate Astro on their vision for developing sports in the country."
"Cricket is a global sport and is a large-scale industry at the international stage. With the launch of this channel by Astro, it will surely open the eyes of the corporate sector in our country to fully utilise the power of cricket as a way to reach local and international consumer bases," he added.
In conjunction with the launch of the new sports channels, Astro is introducing Sports Focus, a bundle of SETANTA Sports HD, Cricket HD and Golf HD at a special fee of RM37.10 per month. Sports Focus is only available for Astro Sports subscribers.

I guess upgrading Fox Sport 2 and 3 won't bring additional $$$. So instead they bring standalone channels and Sport Focus package.