Yes... The only way for them to get 16:9 feed is get HD feed.
How they get the HD feed, it depends whether the agreement between Astro and Sony Pictures Television Network, got include SD and HD, or only SD.

If the agreement doesn't include HD feed, then it is equivalent that Astro got to make a new agreement to buy/pay more to get HD feed.

So at the end of the day, it is still involving about money. This is why some subscription channels still has SD and HD feed instead of simulcast feed in HD quality.

As of now, those 3 channels are only made available exclusively on Astro on the Go platform.
No update on whether it will be available on Astro TV platform.

Erm... Let me clarify it with you, just in case you still blur.

Astro has exclusive DTH license until 28 Feb 2017. Now and prior to this, only Astro can be the DTH service and no one can introduce DTH service (monopoly). After exclusive license ends on 28 Feb, any company can introduce new DTH service. So we can expect new DTH players to be introduced after this.

Astro has non-exclusive DTH license until 2022. After exclusive license ends, Astro can still operate DTH service just like now (as usual) all the way until the year of 2022, but not exclusively., meaning that new DTH player (if any) will co-exist and compete with Astro.

DTH = direct-to-home, also known as satellite pay TV service.

For now of course no any new or potential pay TV operators are interested to introduce new DTH service la...
But that doesn't means it won't have new DTH player even after Astro exclusive license ends at 28 Feb 2017.

Only time will tell.

Singtel/Starhub TV enters Malaysia? Nah... You think too much la...

Yes. When there is a big fish, and you are still a small fish. Do you think the small fish will survive from the big fish?

It depends on how persistent is the small fish then... Because unlike other country like Indonesia, all the fish sizes won't have soooo big gap like Malaysia did.

Or plot twist, TM is the one that introduces new DTH service, to compete with Astro.

MYTV haven't even officially publicly launch yet la... It is still in testing phase now.

As of now, MYTV offers FTA (free-to-air) digital TV service branded as myFreeview, where any compatible DVB-T2 receivers (including built-in TV DVB-T2 tuner) can watch the channels, with no subscription required, free.

In the future, MYTV will introduce pay terrestrial pay TV services, where similar to Astro, it requires a STB with a smart card and it will be offering subscription channels. Which means in the future, both free and paid digital terrestrial TV services will co-exist.

Alternatively, they can offer the channels via satellite, either it is FTA or encrypted, it depends on the provider, and also where did they get the money to rent satellite bandwidth for it? But it is unlikely that will happen though.

Today is the first day of Astro (or maybe first time) for not having exclusive DTH license. heheheh

Yes. Starting August 2016, HD service (RM26.50/month) will include PVR service on top of it, which is now known as HD+PVR Service, so all customers that subscribes to HD service (regardless of new or existing customers) are eligible to have PVR service for free, including Value Packs customers. With the condition of, you have to change to PVR box. Even if you don't change, you'll be still paying RM26.50/month for HD service without PVR service even if you can enjoy PVR for free. However, Family HD (RM18.02/month) customers are not eligible.

As for the installation fee, it depends on your package subscription. Naturally, for those that paying a lot a month, you are more likely to get free installation for upgrading to PVR. For those who pay not so much like me (under RM100), I need to pay RM150 for PVR installation fee.

To use PVR functions, your STB needs to be replaced to PVR box. The latest PVR box looks like this:


If you wonder, is there any catch? Erm, basically no. But based on what I assume, one of the reason they make PVR as a free service for HD customers is because of the OD feature. You know OD? The advertisement that keep annoy you, saying "Connect your PVR to your home Wi-Fi" and you can enjoy lots of programmes, bla bla bla... Prior to this, only for those that subscribe and have PVR box can access OD feature, and the problem is, the number of customers having PVR box is way lesser than customers subscribed to HD. That's why they want more customers to use PVR box to have access to OD feature. Solution? Make PVR service free for HD customers.

OD can somehow benefit them, because OD contains paid content as well. Let say there is a programme or PPV (pay-per-view) content interests you on OD library, but you need to pay to watch it. So the customer will tend to subscribe it, which eventually you are paying more money to Astro.

And also, by upgrading to PVR box, the advantage for Astro is that, you are committed to stay with Astro service for the next 2 years as your 24 months contract will restart/start. Terminating Astro during this period will incur penalty charges, of course.

In simple words, Astro wants customers to pay more money to enjoy more channels and services. As simple as that.

Imagine this, if you can "add many packages and services as you wish" on Family Lite because Family Lite is cheaper than the usual Family pack, many customers will downgrade from Family Pack to Family Lite, and then add HD or PVR or whatsoever packages they wish. This, for sure eventually customers will pay lesser, Astro's money income will decrease, naturally their APRU will be affected as well.

By not allowing customers to customize whatever packages/services they wish on Family Lite, this can make sure the customers that interested to have more channels and enjoy premium services such as HD/PVR, the customers "got to pay more money first" (which customers need to subscribe at least Family pack) in order to enjoy those privileges.

What a trick eh? Don't say Astro is stupid, because Astro is indeed very smart. They will make sure we customers won't find any "lobang" to save money in order to enjoy more.

Yes very true... All telecommunication companies will prioritize on their ARPU, revenue and just about anything about their income/profit. No matter what it is, they will find all sorts of ways to make sure either they earn money, or did not lose money (maintain the same) at all costs. I mean at all costs, it means seriously "at all costs". They don't care whether, providing more attractive services, promotions or offers to customers, or whatsoever, just make sure they keep earn money then can liao...

If they lose money, then something is not right happening on them. For that, those marketing/financing department will handle it.

So as a consumer, we must be wise to choose a package and make sure the amount of money you pay is worth it. Companies like Astro, you can't simply cincai choose packages, cuz otherwise you will end up paying more money, or wasting money. Of course, you won't mind if you are financially-able, or rich.

Well it depends. It's not to say you got to refuse offers offered by Astro. Some is good, some is plain money-oriented offers, some is useless ones.

Here's a word of advice. Although some offers that offered by Astro sounds like a great deal, but in another way round, Astro is expecting something in return from the customers.
The best example is the HD+PVR service. So whenever Astro offer you any kind of promotions and offers, it is better that you do some research on it, such as asking us in the forum here So that at least we know what kind of fishy stuff is going on Astro, and give you a feedback and opinions just like other forum users do. And also, don't forget to ask for T&C from them, instead of blindly accept whatever offers offered by them.

Another example, Astro give you free preview of a particular package(s) or perhaps HD channel? Obviously they want you to get hooked up by the programme/content of the channels in the package. If you like the content on that channel, it will make you feel like want to subscribe to that package, so eventually when you subscribe it, Astro earn money... See the trick here? Hahaha...

What are the packages you subscribed anyway?

In other words, no news means good news. It's not Astro DTH licence is overdue... It's exclusive licence ends at 28 Feb 2017, while its non exclusive licence ends on 2022. So, Astro's current licence still can operate as usual DTH service until 2022.

The exclusive license means, Astro can be the only satellite pay tv provider, and no one can enter to the satellite pay tv market until the exclusive license ends. In simple words, monopoly lor... Now it has ended already, means if there's any company would like to have satellite pay tv can apply from gov related department.

Looks that this news is just for show, as they make it as if like government officials is doing something on it to impress the people, but eventually no improvement. Or, perhaps there are some secrets going on between them and it is not being revealed...

If you are able to receive channels (signals) when you brought Astro STB and connects to the condo's centralised dish wall socket, well done. However if you see "Services currently not available" on some HD channels, then it is most likely that your building's centralised dish does not support HD.

To make sure that I'm right, you may perform Transponder Scan as per instructions as below:
1. Make sure the smartcard in is the STB's smartcard slot.
2. Press 'home'>Settings>STB Diagnostics, then press right arrow to go to Tuner tab.
3. Press Green Button to initiate transponder scan, then it will somehow looks like this:

If you are getting 0% signal Strength and Quality readings for frequency from 12xxx MHz onwards (especially no. 13 until no. 18 of the scan results) and only able to get signals from 10xxx MHz and 11xxx MHz frequencies, that means it is confirmed that your building's centralised dish are not able to receive signals from all HD channels.

Note: Ignore the ones that showing 19xxx MHz frequencies.

If your building management allows, consider install own satellite dish outside of the building (e.g. balcony) if possible as it is the easiest and straightforward solution. Contact the installer directly, not Astro customer service ya... Otherwise, contact your building management that you want to watch HD channels using the centralised dish, see if there is any solution for it. If no solution, then you have no choice but only able to watch the channels that you can receive.

Technical (Ignore this if you don't understand):
This is due to technical limitations of the older, legacy technology of your building's centralised dish system, where it support only the low frequency Ku band (pronounce as " K U band", not to pronounce "ku" literally) satellite frequencies (10700 MHz - 11700MHz) which is initially used by Astro since the 90s, but that old system is not able to support/receive the newer, higher satellite frequencies range from 11700MHz-12750MHz which is mostly use for most of HD channels. However, there are buildings (e.g. condos, apartments, offices) that has been upgraded its system, allowing residents/customers to receive all HD channels (high frequency Ku band).

Do note that users who installs and using own Astro satellite dish are not affected by these low/high frequency Ku band issues. That's why you don't see this happening on customers that using own satellite dish to receive Astro.

For Astro:
Lower range Ku band: Measat 3 and Measat 3b (the satellites you receive all SD channels and selected HD channels)
Higher range Ku band: Measat 3a (the satellites you receive most of your HD channels).

Have you tried rebooting your Astro STB? Which Astro STB are you using? Is it Astro B.yond or the legacy Astro box?

This post has been edited by joshhd: Mar 9 2017, 10:01 PM

Use your LG TV remote control to control Astro? I don't think you can do that.... Btw where did u get the info that you can do that?

😂😂😂