It’s 1 year anniversary of Astro’s new packs. According to my first post about this last year (
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...#entry102870411 ), there have been some changes since then, so here’s an update:
Are you still a legacy pack customer? If you’re still on one of these packages like Family Pack, Starter Pack, Value Pack, Super Pack Lite, Super Pack, or Super Pack Plus, then you are considered a “legacy pack customer”, also known as a customer who is on the “old” packs.
Or in other words, if you did not make any changes to your Astro package subscription (change or upgrade box doesn’t count) before 8 November 2021, then you are considered a legacy pack customer.
Thinking about switching to new packs? Here’s 10 things you should know1. These channels listed below, are automatically available to everyone. No other add-ons are needed. Once you are on new TV packs, regardless of what race you are, you will automatically gain access to these vernacular channels (Malay or Chinese or Indian), as it is included in Primary Pack.
No more those Mustika pack or Chakravarthy pack anymore, cuz it simply doesn’t exist in the new packs.
The most basic and lowest Astro package available now is called
Primary Pack, price starts from
RM59.99/month with 24 months contract. The legendary Astro's Family Pack which costs RM39.95 that you used to know, has literally
no more.
| Segment | Channels |
| Malay | Astro Warna (107), Astro Citra (108) |
| Indian | Star Vijay (221), Colors Tamil (222), Zee Tamil (223) |
| Chinese | CTI Asia (316), Phoenix Chinese Channel (325), Phoenix InfoNews (326), Astro Hua Hee Dai (333) |
| English | Warner TV (712) |
Warner TV, which was previously under Variety Pack, is now considered a "basic channel", so every Astro customer under new TV packs will have access to this channel now.
2. Want more vernacular channels? Introducing ‘Asian Favourites’It consists of 3 types, which are
Indonesian Favourites, Chinese Favourites, Indian Favourites. In comparison to the legacy packs, it is equivalent to
Indo Pek, Dynasty pack and Maharaja pack respectively.

If you subscribe to either Entertainment Pack, Entertainment Plus, Premium Pack 2 or 3 or Platinum Pack, then you are eligible to choose one (1) of Asian Favourites add-on of your choice, without additional charge.
Otherwise, each Asian Favourites add-on costs RM14.99 per month. Therefore, if those vernacular channels are a must for you, then don’t forget to include the respective Asian Favourites add-on to your subscription.
For example, if the Tamil channel Sun TV (channel 211) is a must for you or your family, then make sure you have Indian Favourites included or added to your package subscription.
3. You might lose access to these channels once you switch over to the new packs…| Affected channels | Which pack or add-on do you need to access the channels again |
| Thangathirai (241) & BollyOne (251) | Movies Pack |
| Celestial Movies (309) | Chinese Favourites |
| tvN (395) | Korean |
| HITS Movies (401) | Movies Pack |
| Premier League: SuperSport 1, 2, 3 (811/812/813) | Sports Pack* |
*
Premier League pack does not exist on the new TV packs. You'll have to opt for bundles that include Sports Pack to access channel 811, 812, and 813 again.
Are you able to watch some or all of these channels now on your existing legacy packs? Perhaps you are aware that the listed channels are included in your legacy pack, or didn’t even realise that you can access the listed channels above.
But once you switch to the new Astro packs, you need to make sure
you have the required add-ons (refer to the table above)
to continue access to the respective channels that you wanted to watch, or else you will lose access to some or all channels listed on the table above.
For example, you've been able to watch Astro SuperSport 1, 2, 3 because you are on Value Pack (and it has Premier League pack included in it). You probably watch some live sports occasionally, but not to say a hardcore fan of sports, or you might be the ones that are not so willing to pay so much for Astro.
Now you switch to Entertainment Plus Pack (because it has Netflix in it).
One day, you feel like watching some sports, so you tune in to channel 811, 812 or 813. Then you will start to wonder, "Eh, how come I can't watch these sports channels anymore? I thought previously I can watch them?"
That is because:
- Premier League pack does not exist in the new Astro packs.
- Entertainment Plus Pack itself, does not include Sports Pack.
- You need to subscribe to either Sports Pack, Sports Plus Pack, Premium Pack 1, Premium Pack 2 or Platinum pack to gain access to channel 811, 812 and 813 again.
Now you regret also no point because you can't turn back to legacy packs anymore. So do your research thoroughly before you switch to new packs. However, if you don't watch any of these channels listed above, then you can just skip to the next point.
==
For those who are on Chuen Min pack (also known as Chinese Family pack, the one that excludes 104, 105, 201), do note that Celestial Movies (309) is not a "
free" channel anymore. You'll need to opt for the Chinese Favourites add-on to continue accessing Celestial Movies channel upon switching to the new TV packs.
4. You want to maintain your current legacy packs, but Astro don’t want thatJust because you love your existing legacy packs for various reasons, that doesn’t mean Astro love to see that.
According to their general T&C, they have the right to change whatever business rules anytime as they please. To
force encourage as many customers as possible to move to the new packs, there have been tons of restrictions imposed on legacy pack customers, such as
cannot add/remove/replace/upgrade/downgrade any Astro package, and even add Multiroom box. The best way to get your freedom back is to switch to the new pack altogether.
Ok, here’s some happier news:
You can upgrade to Ulti or Ultra Box while maintaining your legacy packs, but only on certain exceptions, including but not limited to:
- If your existing Astro box is being replaced due to technical problems, they no longer offer you either HD or PVR box as a box replacement. Even if you’re using a PVR box and unfortunately it spoils and needs to be replaced, they will likely offer you Ulti Box as a box replacement. When that happens, bid farewell to your PVR box as the Astro installer will collect it from you upon box upgrade.
- Existing Astro IPTV customers that are being offered or requests to “upgrade” to Ulti or Ultra Box, but you will eventually be using either Satellite (if your box is connected to the Astro dish) or Plug & Play mode, and you won’t be using IPTV Multicast service thereafter. Astro do plans to cease Astro IPTV service someday, and the migration process has already ongoing. But since Ulti and Ultra Box has the Continuous Viewing feature that allows you to continue watching TV channel when there’s no satellite signal (e.g. bad weather) by manually switching from satellite to internet streaming, then it’s likely not a major concern to most people.
5. No more standalone "News" and "Learning" mini packagesBoth Mini Packages mentioned are now consolidated as a single add-on, named "
News & Documentaries", and the only package bundle that comes with it, is the most expensive
Platinum Pack.
Otherwise, a-la-carte price for "
News & Documentaries" will be
RM14.99 per month.

If you've been subscribed to the Learning pack but did not subscribe to the News pack, or vice versa, then unfortunately, once you switch to the new packs, it’s no longer an option for you to choose either one of them. It’s 2-in-1 now, whether you like it or not.
But if you've already subscribed to both of them previously, well... no difference for you then.
6. Still has a remaining contract on your legacy packs but want to switch to the new packs? Then you have to choose the contract period option that is
greater than your existing remaining contract period.
For example, you have an ongoing 24-month contract, and still have 7 months remaining before your contract ends, and now you are interested to switch to the new packs. You have to select at least 12 months contract then. The 0-month contract option is not available for you.
And vice versa, if you still have 15 months contract remaining, then you’ll have to select the 24 months contract option upon switching to the new packs.
This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 10 2022, 02:54 AM