Astro Digital partners Google in a Content Hosting Services Agreement

Putrajaya, 9 October,2012 – Astro Digital (a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Google to extend the distribution of Astro branded content to Malaysia and the rest of the world via YouTube.  Since March 2012, Astro Digital and Google has entered into a Content Hosting Services Agreement which will allow Astro to have incremental reach beyond its current customer base.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak witnessed the Astro- Google partnership which was represented by Henry Tan, Chief Operating Officer of Astro Malaysia and Julian Persaud, Managing Director of Google SEA in conjunction with the Digital Malaysia and the 13th MSC Malaysia International Advisory Panel (IAP) meeting.

Henry Tan said “Astro will capitalise on new technologies and develop new products to expand our customer reach and enhance our service proposition to consumers. To this end, we are pleased to partner Google to widen the distribution of our Malaysian content onto digital platforms such as YouTube, so that we can go beyond the household to access non Astro customers as well as Malaysians living abroad or anyone in the world, who are interested in our content offering. Astro was also the first in Malaysia to broadcast a LIVE event on YouTube for Konsert Kenangan Sudirman, and this was well received from viewers in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.”

Currently available on YouTube are six (6) full length “catch-up” channels including Astro Awani, Astro Prima, Astro Oasis, Astro Xiao Tai Yang, Astro AEC and Astro Vaanavil from NJOI, available across 3 vernacular languages. The full length videos are available within a week from broadcast, and Astro offers the latest news, exciting kids' educational shows, religious programmes and the best Malay, Chinese and Indian entertainment, drama and concerts. To date, Astro has over 300 hours of library content with approximately 8 hours weekly refresh rate, on YouTube.

In addition to the 6 channels from NJOI, Astro has offered another 8 short-form promotional channels which features behind the scenes, music videos, promos, extras and educational clips in English, Malay and Chinese. In total Astro have 14 channels on YouTube and these channels have achieved over 35 million cumulative views since the launch of YouTube Malaysia on the 22 March 2012.

New Astro B.yond IPTV Concept Store opens in Mont Kiara

First-of-its-kind IPTV Concept Store gives customers the opportunity to see, touch and experience all elements of Astro B.yond IPTV’s multiplay service

KUALA LUMPUR, 19th September 2011 – Astro welcomes Malaysians to the ultimate home entertainment experience in the first-of-its-kind Astro B.yond IPTV Concept Store in Mont Kiara. Visitors to the Concept Store will have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the features of the service and discover the joy of Astro B.yond IPTV in full length.

Astro B.yond IPTV, a strategic collaboration between Astro and TIME dotCom Berhad (TIME), delivers the best of Astro, Broadband and Voice through an unparalleled multiplay of Astro channels in HD (High-Definition) with Personal Video Recording (PVR) and VOD (Video-on-Demand) services delivered via TIME’s 100% fibre broadband in offering the fastest internet speed in the country with voice at best value to Malaysian homes.

Ms. Liew Swee Lin, Chief Commercial Officer of Astro Malaysia said, “The rapid take-up of digital sophistication amongst Malaysians has seen an increasing desire for the digital consumption of information and entertainment. As Astro B.yond IPTV brings to life a true digital lifestyle which serves the needs of knowledge driven and globally connected Malaysians, the unique set-up of our IPTV Concept Store is designed for visitors to understand the IPTV experience and realise their aspirations for a truly digital home entertainment experience.”
(L-R) Mr. Henry Tan, Chief Operating Officer of Astro Malaysia, Ms. Liew Swee Lin, Chief Commercial Officer of Astro Malaysia and Mr. Arjun T. Arasu, Chief Marketing Officer of TIME dotCom in the Experience Zone of the Astro B.yond IPTV Concept Store.

One-stop Concept Store: Learn, Experience and Discover the Joy of Astro B.yond IPTV

The Astro B.yond IPTV Concept Store starts with the Discover Zone, where visitors can discover the advantages of the IPTV service, which is followed by the Connect Zone for visitors to test and experience the fastest High-speed Fibre Broadband connectivity of up to 30 Mbps, the Experience Zone, a comfortable lounge area for visitors to experience a live demonstration of Astro’s IPTV-enabled premium TV offerings with HD, PVR and VOD functionality, and the Family Lounge area, which showcases the ultimate IPTV immersive home cinema experience with acoustically treated walls and a comfortable living room design.

While the Concept Store has been designed to resemble an ideal, digitally connected home, it comes with the Promotion and Consultant Zone, where customer assistance and sign-up facilities for Astro B.yond IPTV service is available to visitors. The Concept Store boasts a free 30Mbps high-speed broadband Wi-Fi service which visitors and bystanders alike will be able to enjoy, courtesy of Astro.

Visitors will also be treated to five weekends of fun and excitement for the entire family as on-ground activities, premium giveaways, and themed celebrations such as a Halloween Party will be hosted at the Concept Store. For more information of the events and activities that are not to be missed, kindly visit the Astro B.yond IPTV Concept Store at No. 5, Jalan Solaris 2, Ground Floor, Solaris Mont Kiara; or call 03-6411 0581.

全新Astro B.yond IPTV概念店在Mont Kiara隆重开张

概念店让客户看到、触摸和体验Astro B.yond IPTV多元服务的所有元素

2011年9月19日KUALA LUMPUR讯 – Astro欢迎马来西亚人光临设在Mont Kiara，首创先河的Astro B.yond IPTV概念店，体验至高的家庭娱乐感受。来到概念店的观众，将有机会近距离了解此项服务的特点，以及探索全屏幕的Astro B.yond IPTV网络电视的乐趣。

Astro B.yond IPTV网络电视，是一项Astro和时光网有限公司(TIME)之间的策略性合作，通过Astro HD频道(高清)无与伦比的多重广播，以及个人视频录影(PVR)和视频点播VOD服务，借助时光网的百分百光纤宽频，给马来西亚家庭提供国内最快速互联网速度，以及最佳音效的优质Astro、宽频和语音服务。

马来西亚Astro首席营销员刘瑞琳(Liew Swee Lin)说:“马来西亚人迅速接受复杂的数码化服务，让我们看到了对数码信息和娱乐的需求不断增长。Astro B.yond IPTV将真正的数码化生活方式带到我们的生活之中，满足了人们对知识的需求，并将马来西亚人与全球联系起来。我们这间独一无二的IPTV概念店，是为了让访客了解IPTV网络电视，并实现他们对真正数码化家居娱乐的追求。”

一站式概念店：学习、体验和探索Astro B.yond IPTV的喜悦
Astro B.yond IPTV概念店，首先有一个Discover Zone，访客可以在这里探索IPTV服务的优势；Connect Zone则可让访客测试和体验连接速度最快达到30 Mbps的高速光纤宽频；Experience Zone是一个舒适的休闲厅，让访客在场体验Astro’s IPTV网络电视提供的HD高清、PVR视频录像和VOD点播节目等功能。还有Family Lounge，经过音效处理的墙壁和舒适的客厅设计，展示了拟真家居影院的体验。

此概念店的设计，将理想与数码化家居融于一身的同时，也设立了Promotion and Consultant Zone，为访客提供Astro B.yond IPTV网络电视服务的消费人援助和签购设施。此概念店有一个免费的30Mbps高速宽频Wi – Fi无线服务，让访客和路过者随时都能够使用这项Astro的献礼。

此外，一项连续五个周末的欢乐活动，也将在此概念店举行，让访客阖家大小参加现场游戏、获得精美赠品、以及例如万圣节派对的主题式庆祝活动。欲知更多有关这些不容错过的活动的详细信息，欢迎亲临位于满家乐(Mont Kiara) Solaris，Solaris 2路G楼5号的Astro B.yond IPTV概念店；或播电03-6411 0581询问。

Sony Awarded Contract by Astro for HD equipment

Asia Pacific, September 9, 2011 – Sony has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by Astro to provide and maintain state-of-the-art HD broadcast equipment in Malaysia.

As part of this landmark deal, Sony will be providing 47 sets of HDC-1550 and three sets of HDC-3300R HD cameras, as well as four MVS-7000X and one MVS-6000 HD switchers. In addition, Sony will continue to work closely with Astro, to cater to their ongoing needs and provide maintenance support for an additional four years following the warranty period.

“Sony is pleased to be selected as Astro’s equipment and solutions partner in their upgrade to HD. It is a milestone transition for their business and it is absolutely critical to select the right partner during this transition process. We will ensure that their experience and partnership with Sony will be based on certainty and will be a seamless one,” said Chris Grey, Head of Broadcast and Content Creation Solutions, Professional Solutions Company (PSAP), Sony Electronics Asia Pacific.

With this deal, Astro will be upgrading its broadcast studios and OB vans, allowing the creation of more variety of local programs and sports coverage offerings through its HD channels launched last year.