Apr 9 2008, 03:17 PM, updated 17y ago
Astro barred from increasing channels until services improve
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tue...icle/index_html
Astro is barred from increasing the number of channels until it improves its services to the satisfaction of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It has also been given a December deadline to comply with the Multimedia Communications Act 1998.
Astro's license was issued in 1997 under Telecoms Act and Broadcasting Act which were abolished and replaced by the newer Act. MCMC, under the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry, has decided to rap Astro on the knuckles following numerous public complaints on its services.
Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the number of complaints had increased in recent years along with the growing number of Astro subscribers, now over two million.
"When Astro migrates to the newer Act, MCMC will be able to conduct better enforcement. It is also better to have all broadcasting stations under the same Act," he said. Other TV stations are governed by the 1998 legislation.
Among the complaints MCMC has noted are the late payment fee of RM10, disconnection upon a month's delayed payment, reconnection fees, technical support fees, disrupted services during bad weather, billing disputes, lack of choice in packages offered, and content of certain programmes.
Shaziman also said it was unclear if certain packages were priced correctly as they included channels which showed programmes that were not related to the package theme.
"We have decided not to allow Astro to add more channels until MCMC is satisfied that they have improved their services. We also hope they will migrate to the newer Act by the end of the year. More importantly, they should focus on improving services," Shaziman told reporters after a meeting with MCMC members.
He assured Astro that coming under the new Act would not mean the loss of its exclusive rights until 2017 to be the sole operator of direct-to-home broadcasting via satellite.
"We will maintain their exclusivity," he said, adding that Astro's operating license until 2022 under the two abolished Acts would be replaced with a new license.
He said in 1999, Astro had then indicated it was willing to migrate to the new Act but till now, had not done so.
Shaziman also urged Astro to provide more package options with cheaper pricing as this would benefit lower-income households, many of whom are subscribers.
He also said the company should sponsor services to about 140,000 households in rural and remote areas which did not receive terrestrial television as part of their social responsibility.
"We had made an earlier proposal to them on this but they declined and wanted the government to pay for it."
He urged Astro to dialogue with the MCMC.
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if it wasn't i couldn't live without football, i would have cut Astro totally. 
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