Oh well... At least, an official reply from Starhub regarding the channel cessation of Go Shop Singapore.



It mention:
"commercial decision", which is supposed to relate to business....
"made by the channel partner.", which is Astro...

Hah, so that means Go Shop Singapore is underperforming in terms of sales then?
Well, that explained why Astro want it to be ceased...
They thought, "we can earn more profit with Singapore dollars" through Go Shop Singapore, but turns out ain't many Singaporeans give a damn much to buy their products.
Pity Astro....

Got... Singtel TV and/or Starhub TV do carry Malay and Tamil channels made by Astro, such as Astro Ria, Prima, Warna, Vaanavil, Vinmeen HD, etc.
But I know is, the channel version you see in Malaysia and Singapore is different (different feed). So the programme currently showing in Malaysia would be different than the one you see in Singapore. And also, Singapore feed ones has lesser ads than the one you watch on Astro (Malaysia).

Because Singapore don't produce much Malay and Tamil language content, so they mostly import TV programmes from Malaysia and India. So, no surprise if they JV with Astro....

There's no other way than to delete some of your programmes that you no longer want to keep.

When Astro firstly introduce Astro B.yond PVR service many years ago, Astro do offer "Plug N Play PVR service" where you can use My Passport AV 320GB external hard drive or use Astro PVR Easi to record your programmes by using the first model of Astro B.yond HD box (known as DMT 4, the one that has clock/ch no. display on front panel), so it does somehow provide an option for B.yond HD customers to enjoy PVR recording service without actually using a PVR box, by adding RM5/month instead of RM10/month for PVR service.

The downside is, B.yond HD box is single tuner only and you can't tune to other channel once you start recording a channel, unless you stop it.

But Astro discontinued that later on, and only focuses on Astro PVR box should customers wish to record/download(from On Demand) TV programmes.

Oh they do have Indonesian programmes channels. In fact, they have more than ours!

You can take a look at their Malay package for Singtel TV and Starhub TV here:
Singtel TV: https://www.singtelshop.com/shop/singteltv/...spirasi-starter
Starhub TV: http://www.starhub.com/personal/for-your-h...-lite-pack.html

Note: Malay channels from Astro (e.g. Astro Prima, Warna...) is a dedicated Singapore feed, so it is different than the one you watch on Astro Malaysia.

Besides that, they do offer Filipino content as well.
Singtel TV: https://www.singtelshop.com/shop/singteltv/...kabayan-starter
Starhub TV: http://www.starhub.com/personal/for-your-h...pinoy-pack.html

The way Singapore pay TV do business is so much different than Malaysia's, and it is beyond compare la...

In terms of channels offering, yes it is definitely much attractive than Malaysia's.
But in terms of pricing, that would be debatable.

You got to know what currency is it.... Like what sherz88 mentioned, pay TV usually deal with content provider in USD. So US$1 = S$1.35, and the value of Singapore dollars don't get fluctuate easily, unlike our Malaysia Boleh ringgit currency.

For MYR leh? 1 USD = RM4.06 (as of today's currency 5 Dec 2017). So if you compare, definitely the amount of money that Malaysia and Singapore pay TV providers pay to buy TV content are way different because of the currency differences.
And also don't forget, Singapore so small, Malaysia is big. So their population isn't as high as Malaysia's, so does the number of subscribers. So you see,
i) number of subscribers you have
ii) amount of money paid to buy the content in your own country's currency, with USD.

...is good enough to determine the channel/package prices you would offer to your customers, whether will it be affordable or expensive.
And the way they do business and marketing is also different than us.
So, we can't actually compare like apple and apple between Singapore and Malaysia pay TVs provider on how they do business. But the thing for sure is, their channel offerings are much attractive than us.

Singapore do depend a lot on Malaysia in terms of Malay content. As for Astro channels in Singapore, especially Malay ones like Astro Ria, Prima, Warna, those channel names is reputable and highly recognized by Malaysian Malay viewers. Since Singapore Malay population there is low (obviously) and they don't produce much Malay content, while Malaysia produce a lot of great Malay content (especially Astro's), viewers enjoy it and has high viewership ratings, for sure importing Malay content from Malaysia would be cheaper for them, rather than they producing their own Singaporean Malay content. Not to say don't have, got, but less. That's why there are some Singaporean Malay artists/actors/celebrities would further develop their career in Malaysia such as featuring in Malay dramas, movies and TV shows. One of the example is Aaron Aziz.

Just like how we see Chinese language content. Would you choose to watch Malaysian Chinese content (like dramas and shows), or you rather watch HK/Taiwan/China shows? Why do you think so? Why there are many Malaysian Chinese celebrities would further develop their career in other countries such as Taiwan/Hong Kong? Roughly the same concept lo. Because the market is small.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 5 2017, 07:28 PM

Android box (OTT platform) is different thing already. The app/platform that you watch content, is it the legal service like Netflix, iflix..., or the illegal ones like Popcorn Time, or Kodi (uses third party plugins)?

Because of the differences in terms of platform, type of service, quality of service, content delivery method, legal/illegal, you can't simply compare like apple and apple.
Some prefer pay TV service, some prefer OTT platform. Some prefer linear TV, some prefer non-linear TV. And all of these, has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's all up to individual.

Potential target audiences for Indonesian programmes outside Indonesia will be among Malaysia Malays. So it is common to see that Malaysia do import Indonesian content, especially dramas (sinetron).

The subtitles and audio dub you see and hear from the channels you watch from Transvision pay TV service is actually Bahasa Indonesia, not Bahasa Malaysia.
It is quite common for Malaysians to get confused by thinking that Indonesian and Malay are the same, but actually, it's similar but still different. Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian) and Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) are considered as different language, but some of the usage of words, spellings, and terms are same, but some are different which you may not even learn before in your BM class during your primary and secondary school years. Those LOL. Usually for those that good in Malay, they shall know to differentiate if it's in Malay or Indonesian.

Because we Malaysian learnt Bahasa Malaysia subject during our primary and secondary school years, it won't be hard for us to learn Bahasa Indonesia because the languages in between is similar.

As for audio dub, meh, I only listen to original language whenever available.

Our local broadcasters (especially Astro and Media Prima) do export some local made programmes (especially Malay programmes) to Singapore, but Indonesia I'm not sure. So far I never hear about whether Indonesian TV airs Malaysian programmes. Even if it does, I don't think they air it often, or maybe it does offers on pay TV channels only.

Malaysian made programmes are mostly sellable to neighbouring countries like Singapore and Indonesia.
Other than this 2 countries, I think it would be hard.

And even sellable to Disney Channel too...
I wonder if it is aired on Indonesia, will it be in Malay audio dub or they make another Indonesian audio dub... But I guess it will still in original Malay audio dub...

I agree like what the news said:
Axiata (Celcom) and Telekom ( TM ) are related to the government one. But from what I see, TM might interested in Media Prima's TV business. If they do, TM may have better opportunities to produce more local Malay content, since TV3 is under Media Prima and TV3 is highly well-known among Malay viewers.

But whoever take over the company, as long it is controlled by government, I don't think it will bring any differences compared to now, or even become worse than now.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 9 2017, 07:37 PM

Because Media Prima is Umno-affiliated company, I don't think Astro will keen to merge with them...
Astro are already producing own programmes, and quite sellable to Singapore already.
Do you think Astro would merge with Media Prima, would bring benefit a lot to Astro?

You'll see us mention about it on this topic whenever available.
So, do follow up this forum page

Just asking, why would create a new V14 of this same topic? What's the difference oh?

Even if it has thousands of posts on it, with hundreds of pages, why need to create new one?

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 14 2017, 04:14 PM

There's nothing you can do with it once you terminate Astro. You can keep as a souvenir, that you subscribed to Astro before.
As for the dish, you can choose to sell 2nd hand to the ones who needs it, or you can actually watch channels from other satellites by aligning the dish (provided if you have an universal satellite receiver).

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 24 2017, 10:51 PM

I think yes. Do contact Astro for more information.

Can you share the pictures of your new Astro HD decoder?
Take the front and back of the decoder.

Is your new Astro HD box looks like this?




If yes, then yeah, this shall be the latest Astro HD Zapper model.
This is the 3rd generation Astro B.yond HD box.


Picture credit to Promosi Astro & Njoi Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/jomdaftarastro/pho...pe=3&permPage=1
https://www.facebook.com/jomdaftarastro/pho...pe=3&permPage=1
https://www.facebook.com/jomdaftarastro/pho...pe=3&permPage=1

Basically no.

Hmm... These channels aren't very popular in Asia region. I think most probably Starhub drop this channel is because, the channel agreement between Starhub and channel provider has ended, and Starhub wish not to extend the agreement due to low viewership.

In my opinion, I don't think they genuinely just want to cut costs.
Logically, if not many viewers are watching it (low viewership), then why would you extend the channel agreement, right? Rather just drop the channel instead...

Family + Sports + 1 Mini package = RM85.81 including GST.
*If you subscribe to Sports Pack, you must choose at least 1 mini package regardless. If you do not subscribe to Sports Pack, you choose either NO Mini package or minimum 2 Mini Packages.

List of Astro's Mini Packages

News
CNN, BBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, Australia Plus.
HD: Sky News HD

Learning
Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Discovery Science, History, Animal Planet
HD: Discovery Asia, National Geographic (HD), History (HD)

Kids
Nickelodeon, Disney Junior, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, ZooMoo

Variety
Fox Life, E!, MTV, Animax
HD: Lifetime, Fox Life (HD), Warner TV

*HD-PVR Service is required to watch those HD channels, for additional RM26.50/month. By subscribing to it, you'll also be able to enjoy Sports channels in HD quality as well.

So, if you want to have cheapest way to enjoy Sports channels in HD, better you go for this Value Pack called "Fans Pack"

The rebate and the 90 days free preview is only applicable for new subscribers who sign up online. Existing customer, nope.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 31 2017, 12:25 AM