Analysis - Astro All Asia Networks
COMPANY BACKGROUND
ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc (ASTRO) is Malaysia’s leading cross-media group with significant presence in DTH (Direct-To-Home) TV services, commercial radio and TV programming. Astro, the subscription TV service began operations in 1996 with 22 channels and currently broadcasts over 119 pay-TV channels in four major languages across Malaysia and Brunei to more than 2.93 million households.
Its state-of the-art digital broadcast facilities at the All Asia Broadcast Centre and at the Cyberjaya multiplex are capable of handling digital TV, radio and data services on satellite and terrestrial broadcast networks, wireless telephony and the Internet.
ASTRO’s subsidiary, MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, enjoys an exclusive licence till 2017 for satellite DTH transmission in Malaysia.
The Group is actively involved in origination, aggregation and distribution of TV programming in Malay, Chinese, English and Indian languages, in addition to third-party content. With over 38,000 first-run hours of original multi-language content, the Astro Entertainment Network (AEN) encompasses 31 television channels across various genres, with plans to increase these in the near future to serve an ever-evolving customer profile.
ASTRO’s in-house production, comprising entertainment, information and news programmes, totalled close to 5600 hours in FY09.
The Group operates eight FM terrestrial radio stations in Malaysia, which include the top-ranking stations in key Malay, Chinese, Indian and English vernacular demographics. These stations cumulatively reach close to 11 million listeners a week or 72% of total radio listeners in the Peninsular Malaysia, and command a substantial 57% of the radio industry's advertising expenditure. In addition, the Group also packages 17 digital radio channels over the DTH platform.
Through its subsidiary Celestial Pictures, ASTRO owns the world’s largest Chinese film library and its digitally re-mastered films for release and
ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc (ASTRO) is Malaysia’s leading cross-media group with significant presence in DTH (Direct-To-Home) TV services, commercial radio and TV programming. Astro, the subscription TV service began operations in 1996 with 22 channels and currently broadcasts over 119 pay-TV channels in four major languages across Malaysia and Brunei to more than 2.93 million households.
Its state-of the-art digital broadcast facilities at the All Asia Broadcast Centre and at the Cyberjaya multiplex are capable of handling digital TV, radio and data services on satellite and terrestrial broadcast networks, wireless telephony and the Internet.
ASTRO’s subsidiary, MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, enjoys an exclusive licence till 2017 for satellite DTH transmission in Malaysia.
The Group is actively involved in origination, aggregation and distribution of TV programming in Malay, Chinese, English and Indian languages, in addition to third-party content. With over 38,000 first-run hours of original multi-language content, the Astro Entertainment Network (AEN) encompasses 31 television channels across various genres, with plans to increase these in the near future to serve an ever-evolving customer profile.
ASTRO’s in-house production, comprising entertainment, information and news programmes, totalled close to 5600 hours in FY09.
The Group operates eight FM terrestrial radio stations in Malaysia, which include the top-ranking stations in key Malay, Chinese, Indian and English vernacular demographics. These stations cumulatively reach close to 11 million listeners a week or 72% of total radio listeners in the Peninsular Malaysia, and command a substantial 57% of the radio industry's advertising expenditure. In addition, the Group also packages 17 digital radio channels over the DTH platform.
Through its subsidiary Celestial Pictures, ASTRO owns the world’s largest Chinese film library and its digitally re-mastered films for release and