| Astro unveils eight new channels |
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| Written by Administrator | |
| Saturday, 06 October 2007 | |
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Astro All Asia Networks plc has launched eight new channels, bringing its total channels to 107 in a bid to boost customers’ experience and enhance earnings. Astro TV chief executive officer Rohana Rozhan said the introduction of the new channels was expected to have a “positive impact” on the Astro’s financial earnings although she declined to reveal figures. Asked whether more channels were in the pipeline, Rohana said the new transmission capacity available to Astro following the launch of Measat 3 allowed the company to have up to 130 channels. Astro TV chief executive officer Rohana Rozhan said the introduction of the new channels was expected to have a “positive impact” on the Astro’s financial earnings although she declined to reveal figures. Asked whether more channels were in the pipeline, Rohana said the new transmission capacity available to Astro following the launch of Measat 3 allowed the company to have up to 130 channels. “We still have 23 more channels to go based on current capacity,” she said at the launch of the latest channels yesterday. Additionally, she said a replacement to its Measat-1 satellite , targeted to be launched by the fourth quarter of next year would allow the company to offer more than 130 channels. In its second quarter ended July 31, Astro reported a net loss of RM54.2mil compared with a net profit of RM73mil for the previous corresponding period. The losses were due mainly to a RM92.4mil write-off on the company’s investment in Indonesia pay-TV joint venture, PT Direct Vision. The company’s Malaysian multi-channel television operation however, grew during the period, recording a pre-tax profit of RM138.6mil for the period compared with RM118.7mil a year ago. Average revenue per user was also higher at RM82, compared with RM77 in its first quarter. Among the new channels introduced yesterday are Astro AWANI, an international news and information channel “with a local perspective”, Astro Oasis, a 24-hour family channel featuring progressive Islamic lifestyles, Mandarin channel Astro Xiao Tai Yang, Hokkien channel Astro HUE HEE DAI, Tamil kids’ channel Chutti TV and The Asian Food Channel, which promises to showcase some of the best local and international culinary programmes. She said Astro expected as many as 250,000 new subscribers after having added 30 channels over the one past year. Source - thestar.com.my
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