From the picture itself, obviously it is censored/blocked by TVBS themselves, not Astro.
If it is censored by Astro, it won't look like this.

If you learn to differentiate, you will know which side is the one that is censoring.

Not skip... It will be replaced with Astro own made ads, like those Astro First, Best movies promo, TV programme promos, etc.

The video itself is 4:3 video format, but the content is 16:9.

Imagine, your video supposed to be rectangle (16:9), but you squeeze it to square (4:3).
In other words, 16:9 content on a 4:3 video, but without leterrbox, fit to screen.

But then, not every content you see on Media Prima channels now are "fit to screen" without letterbox.
Advertisements and certain TV shows aired on Media Prima channels still shows letterbox and in native 4:3 format.

Hmmm... This one I dunno...

That is because HDCP protection is enabled everytime you tune to HD channels. HDCP is a kind of security encryption to prevent you from illegal capturing the content (record/streaming) using any unauthorised devices such as HDMI capture card.

Everytime you tune to HD channels, Astro box will send a HDCP signal to your TV, so your TV got to decrypt it so that you can watch it as per usual. HDCP is to allow only HDCP compliant devices such as your TV to be able to decrypt HDCP signal, hence allowing you to watch it on your connected device. This is what actually happens when you see the "sudden blackout for few hundred milliseconds".

Devices that can't decrypt HDCP especially capture card or capture box, and certain computer monitors, you will see error messages relating to HDCP.

There's nothing to be surprised about, because this is also practiced by Hypp TV as well as all pay TV services in the world, and more.

However, HDCP protection will go off as you tune from HD to SD channels.

Ahhh I see... Now I know.

Btw, I believe you do know, HDCP can be bypassed, so that unauthorized devices such as capture card can record the HDMI streams. Using what to bypass? The answer is HDMI splittter. I have one HDMI splitter as shown as the picture below

and I am able to view HD channels from Astro (HDMI) to my capture box without issues.

Note: This is bad. Don't learn.

Sorry that you feel that way.... I'm not being cheeky, it's just that since you guys discussing about HDCP, the thought of stripping HDCP just came into my mind after I explained about HDCP, so I just share that info lo... I didn't meant to somewhat change the topic or rudely interrupt you, jamesleetech. Hope you don't take it to heart.

But, previously I wasn't sure about the reason why HDCP will be used everytime when HD content is on HDMI although I am aware of it. It's just that I didn't bother much about it, since I know how to strip HDCP. But after you explained the reason, I find it total makes sense, so I agree with your points and I trust your words. So sorry if I offended you in any way and I do not intent to do that...

Regarding the HDMI splitter (the pic I showed on earlier post), the picture quality will be the same, no audio/video quality change for both HDMI outputs from HDMI splitter. It's just that, you need to plug to power source all the time to use it. Without power, both HDMI outputs will display nothing. Even with the splitter on, the "blank screen" will still present when tuning from SD to HD channels. However, conventional HDMI splitter that can strip HDCP (like the picture I showed you) are usually HDMI version 1.3 (especially like what you said, those cheap ones and some of them didn't even state which HDMI version it supports). So I think, most probably the HDMI splitter won't work if the video input is UHD/4K resolution.

But in this case, the "blank screen" won't mean anything to the display device since HDCP has been stripped by HDMI splitter.

So in other words, yeah, there's no way you can prevent that "blank screen" when tuning to HD channels on HDMI output from Astro box. Actually, that "blank screen" is nothing la... For me, it's no big deal to me...

This post has been edited by joshhd: Sep 2 2017, 10:28 PM

Original feeds for most of English paid/subscription channels do not offer English subtitles, including the ones at Measat 3/3a C band. I know cuz I manage to find it out, by opening Powervu channels on Measat C band. However, non-English language channels that shows Korean and Japan programmes like One HD and Gem HD, do have English subs.

You won't see Indian language subs is because India has their own Indian feed or South Asia feed instead of Asia feed for paid English language channels. Therefore, you will see English subtitles available, as well as many other Indian language subs like Tamil, Hindi, and many more on selected channels. You shall know this if you tried Videocon d2h.

Those pay TV channels you see from various satellites like Measat and Asiasat, are not meant for us to watch "illegally for free", you know? It is the source for pay TV providers to get the channel, to be offered to the customers.

Why it is possible for us to open Powervu channels from Measat, and some other satellites, is because the Powervu encryption itself has been compromised, hence enabling newer consumer-level satellite receivers able to decrypt/open Powervu channels and watch it like a normal TV channel, for free, as long the Powervu keys are entered correctly. So far, this 2 leading encryption systems used by broadcasters, Powervu and Tandberg (aka "Director") has been compromised, and you can say that it is because this 2 encryption doesn't use smart card to decrypt channels, resulting an easier way for the professional crackers to crack open the channels.

Those widely used ones like Irdeto, Videoguard, Conax, etc. requires smart card to decrypt (just like Astro) in the proper way. For example, Irdeto are commonly used by Fox Networks Group channels such as National Geographic, Star World, Fox Movies, etc.
Unless you got the access to the smart card that needed to open those original feed channels such as from C band satellites, which only pay TV providers has it, there's no way you can watch it on your own. How about card sharing (cline)? The owner still need to have the smart card (that only pay TV providers and broadcasters have) to decrypt the channels. So still, you can't watch it.

It is a common thing for pay TV all around the world to somewhat lower the bitrate till the point they prefer, before deliver the channels to customers. The bitrate they chose, are depending on the capability for them to deliver the channels to customers. E.g. If their satellite transponders bandwidth are limited, they need to lower the bitrate a little bit to make sure it has enough room to accommodate other or new channels in the future. There are technical things that is scarce or limited for them, and we as customers, we don't know what is it. And sometimes, high in bitrate may make some of the technical things inefficient. That's why pay TV won't offer 100% original video quality from source, but they'll make sure majority of the customers are satisfied with the HD picture quality by not lower the quality too much.

-----

Why Malaysia is one of the countries in the world that ban the private use of parabolic dishes? Why our very good gov try to restrict people of the alternative ways to watch TV content? Because if they made parabolic dishes legal, we can freely watch TV channels from other satellites that we like to aim at, meanwhile our gov cannot control what we're able to watch from other satellites which is "out of their control/league", our gov is "afraid" that if many people watch TV from C band, no much ppl will subscribe to Astro to watch nice programmes already lo.

So, they can make sure all (if not, almost all) of the people will go to the "proper" way to watch good TV channels in the country, and that is..... subscribe to pay TV services like Astro. Of course, this context may not be effective today, because we can get lots of alternative content from Internet. Despite Internet, Astro still earn a lot of money.

In the news, gov will say those ridiculous statements (especially Utusan Malaysia) of watching TV through parabolic dishes, the TV content are not censored and contains pornography, hence causes negative impacts to Malaysians. FYI, you won't see pornography channels via satellite, and if you do, it is encrypted and it won't be made free-to-air. As for censorship, different country has different censorship rules and regulations. And how is our Malaysian censorship board look like? Take HBO Malaysia and HBO Asia as the reference, which we already discussed about it previously. So how can they simply compare censorship implied by other countries with our country, like comparing apple and apple? To scare off Malaysians, parabolic dishes are made illegal and...

As far as I know, they can seize your equipment because you install parabolic dish with the excuse that these non-compliant equipment are not approved by MCMC or SIRIM (unless it is supplied by Astro). So, there are no "proper, explicit law" that ban the private use of parabolic dishes in Malaysia. Correct me if I'm wrong.

But then if you wonder, why Sarawak is somewhat, the only state in Malaysia where parabolic dishes are "legal"? Sarawakians can enjoy unofficial freedom to install parabolic dishes as they please, and since many Sarawak people are poor and many of them not willing to pay Astro every month, you can say that they put Sarawak an "unofficial exception" to this case, and also some other political reasons. So in that case, our gov won't put Sarawak as the "main source" of income for Astro already lor...

In conclusion, it is believed that our gov may be investing "some money" to Astro, where if Astro earn lots of money, some of the profits may go to the gov's pocket. So yeah, you can say that the money you pay monthly to Astro, some of the portion may go in to our Jibby's wallet. To maximise profits, gov ban private use of parabolic dishes, so that ppl gt no choice but to subscribe Astro to watch nice channels (in a legal way for the country), and then make them the only DTH provider in Malaysia (monopoly), and gov won't kacau Astro on how Astro treat customers by increasing package prices while giving lots of excuses, and also poor customer service but then, Astro excels in billing (if you know what I mean). So, this is called, crony.


Hope my explanation helps you to understand more on what's happening in the pay TV market in Malaysia.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Sep 4 2017, 03:41 PM

HDCP is all about hardware stuff, not cable.
Hmmm... I would say, pretty much the same.... Or maybe newer devices are faster, I'm not sure.

It's just a blank screen for few hundred milliseconds. What does that bother you so much lol

For sure it won't be easy to convince existing Astro customers to move to other pay TV providers especially if they like to watch local programmes made by Astro, and also Astro has lots of premium content especially sports. But if you're talking about customers who already frustrated and wanting or already boycott Astro (no longer subscribe to it), then Ansa may be the choice.

For sure when they newly launch the service, the channels won't be many. ABNxcess (which is now ceased) also same...

Astro Maya HD is a free HD channel, including Njoi. As long you're using B.yond box, you don't need to think twice about whether you're able to watch this channel or not. Just tune to channel 135 and enjoy

Astro website sometimes provide wrong info, or outdated info. So better double check oh

This post has been edited by joshhd: Sep 5 2017, 12:09 AM

You tune to the channels that you experience the "video cut" problem.
Then on your remote control, press home >Settings>STB Diagnostics

Tell us what is the % reading of the "Strength" and "Quality".

True. I don't trust on the news channels provided by any pay TV providers in Malaysia, including Astro and Hypp TV. Because they delayed the feed by 2-3 mins, you won't know that kind of info they censored/replaced or even for them to slot in ads. So it's like, the news channels is not "original" anymore.

If original one, without delays, then that will be reliable. Otherwise, read online news la...

No 60fps.... Don't forget, we Malaysia use the Europe TV standards, so it is 50fps.

Do you actually know that all TV channels you see on Malaysian TV including Astro, Hypp TV, digital TV, etc. are all 50fps (PAL)?
Malaysia follow Europe one.... or you can say, we follow UK standards one.

60fps (NTSC) is common known for America or Japan standards.

So, don't expect for 60fps. Expect 50fps instead.

http://www.transvision.co.id/PVR.html

Hmm... I wonder how big is the hard disk capacity....

Astro do have Dolby 5.1 audio, but 4K is still early stage for broadcasters worldwide to implement la, and it is still expensive to do so...
For sure, I believe, UHD service will come to Astro someday. It's just a matter of time.

Outdoor Channel is dedicated for niche audiences who likes to outdoor activities programmes such as fishing.
So, it is not everyone's favourite, so I think most likely that this channel itself are not expensive for pay TVs to buy the channel. In not nice words, cheap content.
That is why this channel is free to all Hypp TV and Hypp TV Everywhere. So, when tonton offer this channel, I would guess, they didn't spend much money on it to provide this channel onto their platform, not as much as premium content that majority of audiences looking for. I think, they just want to add more channel offerings onto their platform.

I agree that Astro won't add this channel onto their platform, because it would be obvious that the viewership of this channel will be low, and as always, Astro likes to slot in ads onto the channel. If your audience base is poor, means not much viewers are watching the channel, what is the point of putting ads onto it? The reasons for advertisers to advertise their product/service to the channel, won't be effective anymore.

And, Astro is very known for the fact that, if the channel viewership is severely under-performing, the channel won't last long on their platform, and it is a matter of time the channel will cease.

Based on their kind of thinking, I don't think they will offer the channel lo.
Even if they provide, most likely it will be a free channel.

True. Majority of Malaysians prefer watching vernacular programmes. Means, Malay people watch Malay language programmes, Chinese people watch Chinese language programmes.... Follow mother tongue language one.....

It's quite expected that Ansa will offer HD channels, this one no need to worry. As for sports content, I'm sure they will try their very best to offer sports content for the sport fans like football, badminton matches, etc. The only question is, how much sports content can they offer? Can they offer sports content as much as Astro do? Can they offer expensive sports content like Astro do, especially football matches like BPL, UEFA.... And, how much does it cost?

Only time will tell.

Hypp Sensasi is from Hypp TV eh....
This would possible if Ansa pay a large sum of money to TM and TM willing to made their content to be made available on Ansa...