PSA: Link your HBO GO account with Astro subscription NOW so you can login to Max from 19 Nov 2024

If you want to be able to login to Max through Astro subscription as Max launches on 19 Nov 2024, please read this:

If any of you are able to watch HBO channels on Astro (e.g. Movies Pack customer), but haven't create and/or link the HBO GO account with your Astro subscription, please do it ASAP.
Even if it has been ages since you last login to HBO GO, it's time to login the account and double check.
This is to ensure that you can login to Max app from 19 Nov 2024.
You will be using the same email address and password of your HBO GO account, to login to Max.

I got a reliable insider info which is similar as what previously shared by doubleM2 where for those who did not link their HBO GO account with Astro subscription by 17 Nov 2024, will NOT be able to link their Max account with Astro subscription as it launches on 19 Nov 2024.
This applies regardless if you subscribe to Movies Pack (or any packs that has Movies) before or after 19 Nov 2024.

Tip: If you can watch HBO channels on Astro now (e.g. CH411, 412, 414, 415...), it means your Astro subscription has Movies, hence you are eligible for HBO GO access (soon will become Max).

It has been told that all these is due to technical readiness from Astro's end (means they are technically not ready, due to other priorities), so those "late comers to Max app" will have to wait until around Jan/Feb 2025 to be able to link Max account with Astro subscription. (Note: May subject to date extension).
As an alternative, Astro will advise those "late comers" that they can still stream selected Max content through On Demand or Astro GO instead. 
All existing Movies customers will be getting Max Standard plan, but due to the technical readiness mentioned earlier, there will be no upgrade option to Max Premium just yet, AND no option to subscribe Max Standard or Max Premium plans as a standalone app addon, until around Jan/Feb 2025 (Note: May subject to date extension).

Even if you previously linked HBO GO account with your Astro subscription, I strongly suggest you guys to double check to see if the HBO GO account is still remained linked with your Astro subscription before 17 Nov 2024. 
This is how it looks like when the HBO GO account is successfully linked with Astro subscription:

https://www.hbogoasia.my/myaccount/billing

Do note that this is only affecting Astro customers.
If you are an Unifi TV customer and subscribed to a pack that includes Max app (e.g. Ultimate Max Pack, Ultimate Plus Pack, etc.), or any other touchpoints, then the above information shouldn't concern you.
Please share this important info to your family and friends who is an Astro customer subscribed to Movies, and is anticipating for Max to launch in Southeast Asia on 19 Nov 2024.

This, I remember the account will be unlinked after certain period. Do you know how long the account will be unlinked and need to linked again?

Or maybe its Astro doing some maintenance on their side then need to link Astro account again?

https://www.digitalbitrate.com/dtv.php?mux=...ive=363&lang=en

Interesting to see that all the transmission data for Astro Satellite is released openly by a scanner in KL, on the famous digital bitrate website.

Of course, all services are encrypted - but transmission data is open to all to see.

Maybe someone can host a DVB-T terrestrial scanner in the future on that website?

Most transponders are on DVB-S2 @ 74Mbps.

The bitrate for each channel ranges from as low as 2.XMbps for some channels (1080i H.264), average 3-6Mbps, and would max up at 8Mbps - which explains the very poor picture quality.

Astro UHD channels is at 18.5Mbps/HEVC CBR + E-AC3 Audio, but we don't know if Astro is going to cut UHD bitrates when they launch more UHD linear channels (unlikely at this point).

For SD channels the bitrate is even lower, at the range of 1.x to 2.x Mbps. 8TV/TV9 is currently transmitting at 1.0Mbps (+ 352*576i combo, which explains the very poor picture quality that people are complaining here!)

Audio quality is 64kbps HE-AAC (AC3 5.1 audio is 384kbps)

For channels still on DVB-S, the channels have audio quality of 128kbps MP2. Radio channels are on 160kbps MP2.

Interestingly, the SD channels are still in the DVB-S transponder (including the old NJOI SD channels, which are still there), but CCM has moved to DVB-S2 transponder.

For comparison - HD bitrates for MYTV is 3.6Mbps-4Mbps (fixed), Unifi TV is 3.6Mbps (for most channels, including sport channels like SPOTV - this bitrate conclusion is after what I have measured over months - must be done to save data costs!)

Finally, I was out of previous contract today and called to downgrade my package to Sports Plus Pack + Netflix Premium. Surprisingly, the CS mentioned I still have a discount carried over to my new contract which is RM 129.99 is already inclusive of Netflix Premium. He said he has ticked the option for Netflix Premium add-on on his side but the discount is still given. I’m not complaining because I could save another RM 10. Now I’m saving RM 65 per month from my previous Platinum Pack. We hardly watch other channels besides Chinese and Sports.

I checked My Astro app and it shows Netflix Premium as my add-on, checked Netflix app also still can see Ultra HD content, so I assume everything is OK.

Anyway, my next bill will be billed on 9th, so let’s see if I’m really paying 129.99 for this package.

So, another 24 months with Astro.

Apparently the CS was wrong, I still need to pay additional for the Netflix Premium on top of 129.99 which I had expected anyway. Still a significant saving from my previous Platinum Pack.

Apparently the CS was wrong, I still need to pay additional for the Netflix Premium on top of 129.99 which I had expected anyway. Still a significant saving from my previous Platinum Pack.

Here’s the latest Netflix pricing for all four plans in Malaysia:

Mobile RM17/month RM18.90/month (extra RM1.90)
Basic RM28/month RM29.90/month (extra RM1.90)
Standard RM45/month RM49.90/month (extra RM4.90)
Premium RM55/month RM62.90/month (extra RM7.90)

Apparently the CS was wrong, I still need to pay additional for the Netflix Premium on top of 129.99 which I had expected anyway. Still a significant saving from my previous Platinum Pack.

netflix rise the price again, astro follow or not ?

netflix rise the price again, astro follow or not ?

Mine One Package: Base + Sport + Netflix Premium + News & Documentary = RM148 (Last year during rewnew)

Netflix Malaysia Bumps Pricing Across All Subscription Tiers
https://www.facebook.com/lowyatdotnet/posts...4Mppit1fccy32Zl

https://www.lowyat.net/2024/337344/netflix-...icing-nov-2024/
https://soyacincau.com/2024/11/14/netflix-m...rice-hike-2024/
The price hike are starting effective today for new or rejoiners. Existing users will pay the new price on the next billing cycle.

Netflix Premium Upgrade definitely need to pay extra one. There's no free Premium plan from Astro.
But just today, Netflix announced price hikes across all of their plans.

netflix rise the price again, astro follow or not ?

Confirmed price hike, but don't know when??

To refresh, Astro bundles Netflix’s Standard tier with its Sports Plus Pack (RM129.99/month), Movies Plus Pack (RM129.99/month), Entertainment Plus Pack (RM129.99/month), Premium Pack 2 (RM149.99/month), Premium Pack 3 (RM154.99/month), and Platinum Pack (RM194.99/month).

The service provider has yet to confirm the new prices for each pack and will very likely reveal them once the date of implementation nears.

Astro: No Price Change For Netflix Bundled Plans Until 1 March 2025
https://www.facebook.com/lowyatdotnet/posts...cJ8vWjBhKMjm7kl

https://www.lowyat.net/2024/337358/astro-ne...g-announcement/

According to Soyacincau article:
https://soyacincau.com/2024/11/14/netflix-m...rice-hike-2024/

Looks like we're going to see a price hike for Astro packs that has Netflix bundled in it, starting 1 Mar 2025.

Astro: No Price Change For Netflix Bundled Plans Until 1 March 2025
https://www.facebook.com/lowyatdotnet/posts...cJ8vWjBhKMjm7kl

https://www.lowyat.net/2024/337358/astro-ne...g-announcement/

Nice. Still have 4 months of cheaper cost.

Ehhhh..

How come suddenly Astro very "generous" 😂

Should straight increase price... Or at least January....

It's not that they generous.
It must be some mutual agreement have happened between Netflix and Astro...
All this are related to commercial/business agreement stuff...

Most transponders are on DVB-S2 @ 74Mbps.
Almost all of their transponders are DVB-S2 with the FEC of 5/6. Only a few handful ones are uses FEC 3/4.
And there's 1 transponder is in DVB-S with the FEC of 7/8, and all are SD channels and radio channels.

The bitrate for each channel ranges from as low as 2.XMbps for some channels (1080i H.264), average 3-6Mbps, and would max up at 8Mbps - which explains the very poor picture quality.
Looking at the video bitrate data for HD channels from Astro's transponders will not be accurate to be referred to, because they uses statmux method (variable bitrate), so the bitrate will always fluctuate according to the video scene.
The low bitrate number you see there, is likely because it is captured when the video scene of that HD channel doesn't have much motion, or a static image.
So if you compare this with MYTV's, definitely it is not accurate.

But the bitrate for Astro's UHD channel, yes, you can refer that. It is accurate because it is CBR.

but we don't know if Astro is going to cut UHD bitrates when they launch more UHD linear channels (unlikely at this point).
Shhhhh... There could be Astro staffs here who is spying this thread. Don't give them such ideas, or else they'll propose this to the management as a way to "save cost"...  
Then I will blame you first if that happens

8TV/TV9 is currently transmitting at 1.0Mbps (+ 352*576i combo, which explains the very poor picture quality that people are complaining here!)
Can you elaborate what you meant by "+ 352*576i combo"? What is the video dimensions?

For channels still on DVB-S, the channels have audio quality of 128kbps MP2. Radio channels are on 160kbps MP2.
For MP2 audio codec, 192kbps is the bare minimum. Anything lower than that, equals to rubbish audio quality...   
I wonder who gave them the idea to use bitrate lower than 192kbps for MP2 audio codec   

Btw, when it comes to the channel logo design, I personally don't like the idea of them using the same colour palette of channel logo used in Astro QJ and Astro Premier to ALL sports channels... 
I don't mind if it is a general entertainment channels, but if the same template used in sports channels, it feels like a "downgrade" or "jatuh standard" to all sports channels. 

I also notice that the overall interface of the channel idents on recent pop-up channels, such as LOL (CH100), or even the recent Olympics channels, are like reusing the same animation template as Astro QJ (CH308) and Astro Premier (CH110).
It seems to me that they want to save time and effort (and likely costs as well?) by reusing the "same template" on any new Astro channel launches (be it a pop-up, temporary or permanent channel).

But for this sports channels rebranding, even if they want to save cost or whatnot, at least choose a different colour scheme for its channels logos & idents maybe?
I seriously think that the red colour logo design and channel ident used in Astro SuperSport is much cooler and more sporty look.