Latest news with #AstroOriginals
Malaysian Reserve
19-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Astro's 1Q profit falls 21% on lower subscription and ad revenue
ASTRO Malaysia Holdings Bhd saw its net profit decline to RM13.48 million for the first quarter ended April 30, 2025 (1Q25), from RM17.01 million a year earlier, dragged by weaker television subscription and advertising income. Revenue for the quarter slipped to RM703.09 million, down 9% from RM772.53 million in the same period last year, the pay-TV operator said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today. The group attributed the revenue decline to a 6% drop in television subscription revenue and a 13% fall in advertising revenue. Despite the softer top line, Astro said engagement on its platform remained robust, with customers spending 82% of their viewing time on local content, up three percentage points quarter-on-quarter. 'We produce 10,000 hours of new content annually to satisfy this demand, ranging from well-known signatures and dramas to thought-provoking Astro Originals, animation and movies,' it said. The group is also expanding efforts to monetise its intellectual properties (IPs) across multiple platforms — including cinemas, streaming, digital, licensing, advertising, and live experiences — to optimise content returns. However, Astro said content piracy remains its biggest threat and stressed it is continuing efforts to combat illegal streaming. It noted that courts across Malaysia had recently ruled in its favour in a number of piracy-related cases, awarding statutory damages and tougher penalties against illegal streaming device (ISD) sellers and F&B operators streaming its content without permission. 'We will continue to lobby for further regulatory reform and enforcement activity, not just to protect Astro, but to safeguard the future of the Malaysian creative industry,' it said. Astro added that it is maintaining a cautious outlook amid macroeconomic uncertainty, internal reforms and external headwinds, with a continued focus on cost discipline and operational resilience. — TMR
New Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Astro's Q1 earnings slip to RM13.48mil, revenue at RM703.09mil
KUALA LUMPUR: Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd's net profit fell to RM13.48 million for the first quarter ended April 30, 2025 (1Q25) from RM17.01 million in the same quarter a year ago. Its revenue declined to RM703.09 million from RM772.53 million, the pay-TV operator said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia. Astro attributed this to a six per cent drop in television subscription revenue and a 13 per cent fall in advertising revenue. As a result, its earnings per share for the quarter came in lower at 0.26 sen from 0.33 sen. Astro said customers now spend 82 per cent of their time on its platform watching local content, up three percentage points quarter-onquarter (QoQ). "We produce 10,000 hours of new content annually to satisfy this demand, ranging from well-known signatures and dramas to thought-provoking Astro Originals, animation and movies. "We are also refining the cross-platform monetisation of our content IPs - across cinemas, on our video and digital platforms, via licensing and advertising deals, and to drive on-ground experiences," it noted. However, Astro said content piracy remains its biggest threat, and the group continue to push hard in the fight against piracy. It added that across Malaysia, courts had recently ruled in its favour with landmark decisions in the last 128 months, awarding Astro statutory damages and imposing tougher penalties on illegal streaming device (ISD) sellers and errant F&B outlets who illegally stream its content. "We will continue to lobby for further regulatory reform and enforcement activity, not just to protect Astro, but to safeguard the future of the Malaysian creative industry. "Given the challenging environment, the group continues to maintain a cautious outlook, carefully monitoring business conditions and ensuring effective cost discipline as consumers and businesses digest the impact of internal reforms and external uncertainties," it said.
New Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Irfan Zaini shocked after obsessed fan injures another posing with him
KUALA LUMPUR: Blood Brothers star Irfan Zaini, who played the suave gangster Malik in that blockbuster movie, recently had a shock when an obsessed female fan attacked another fan who had posed for a selfie with him. The 30-year-old actor recounted in a news report yesterday that during a recent promotional visit to Kuching, Sarawak for Blood Brothers, a female fan took a selfie with him, which evidently angered another. "As soon as she left me after taking the selfie, another female fan approached her and assaulted her until she sustained a minor injury," he explained. Irfan added that the obsessed fan shouted, "Malik is mine!" before striking her victim. "The injured woman sent me a photo of her injury, and I was shocked. I advised her to file a police report." Irfan urged his fans to respect each other and avoid "fighting" over him. "As an actor, I love all my fans, and I don't want them to hurt each other." Irfan is currently starring in Honey Trap, an Astro Originals drama about a female spy. The series also features Nina Kho, Syarul Ezani, Ungku Ismail, Ayez Shaukat Fonseka, Amyza Aznan, and Michael Chen.
The Star
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Astro focuses on attracting new customers
Astro group CEO Euan Daryl Smith PETALING JAYA: Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd will be focusing on attracting new customers, accelerating adjacent businesses and reducing its costs. Group chief executive officer Euan Smith (pic) remains optimistic that the pay-TV operator's video customer base will stabilise in the near future, underpinned by better product value propositions that cater to a wider range of customers. This, he added, will also be supported by the growing share of local content in its customers' viewing time. 'Financial year 2025 (ended Jan 31, 2025) (FY25) saw the highest growth of new Chinese subscribers in the last four years and an increased return of lapsed customers. 'Ongoing efforts to acquire customers in relatively untapped suburban areas and newer townships such as Sekinchan and Pandamaran (Selangor) have also contributed significantly to the general upwards trend,' Smith said in the company's annual report. He added that the group's production expertise and strong integration with the Malaysian creative ecosystem fuels the company's ability to deliver successful shows at scale, whether that be live signatures, Astro Originals, dramas, local sports, news, or children's content. 'Our new formats and captivating content increasingly include 360-degree engagement that goes well beyond the screen, to radio, to ground events, and into the vibrant social media and digital space.' Separately, Smith said Astro's adjacent businesses continue to show momentum. 'Enterprise, Astro Fibre broadband, addressable advertising and Sooka are each unlocking significant opportunities to meet a wider range of customer needs.' Having grown these businesses in FY25, Smith said the focus is now on increasing Astro's execution cadence for each of these business lines. 'Additionally, our ability to execute unified campaigns across all platforms and leverage Astro's extensive talent roster positions us uniquely to engage the entire Malaysian audience across TV, radio, digital, and at on-ground activations. 'Brands continue to trust us to deliver high-impact, targeted solutions.' In an era of intense competition and deep discounting, Smith said Astro is experimenting with novel and innovative approaches to differentiate its advertising expenditure offering. 'This includes repurposing scenes from our shows and movies into advertisements, a strategy that has encouraged investments and sponsorships from leading consumer brands, including for our movie titles (such as The Experts and Keluang Man).' Additionally, Smith said efforts around cost continue, with the group's overall cost base down by circa 8% in FY25 despite parallel investments to acquire new customers and grow new businesses. 'In particular, proactive measures to reduce legacy costs are helping ensure that our offerings remain competitive in the face of increasing pressure from over-the-top platforms and piracy.' Smith emphasised that major cost savings in the year included lower employee costs resulting from the headcount reduction achieved post the FY24 voluntary separation scheme. 'Our cost to serve dropped significantly as a result of our customer relationship management system re-platforming, other technology initiatives, and the mid-year retirement of the M3a satellite. 'Advancements in compression technology and delivery of more content via On Demand have allowed us to reduce transponder capacity and its associated costs.'
The Star
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Exclusive Astro One packs for civil servants
Civil servants will get to enjoy special discounts on Astro One packages with complimentary channels. ASTRO, Malaysia's leading content and entertainment company, has launched a special, value-driven entertainment package, exclusively created to express appreciation for the dedicated service of Malaysia's civil servants. The Exclusive Civil Servants offer (Tawaran Eksklusif untuk Penjawat Awam) is immediately available to over 1.6 million civil servants in Malaysia. It is a testament to Astro's recognition of the vital role government employees play in the progress and well-being of the nation. The exclusive offer consists of Astro One packs, offering a variety of Astro's premium content including a wide selection of channels, Astro's signature local programmes, Astro Originals, on demand entertainment and Astro GO access. The packages include options for streaming services, news, education, sports, movies, local and international entertainment for civil servants and their families with diverse preferences while also maximising their entertainment budget. 'As a homegrown company deeply rooted in the fabric of Malaysian society, Astro has been a part of the nation's story for many years, connecting families and communities through our diverse content and services. 'We understand the vital role civil servants play in shaping our nation, and this special package reflects our gratitude, offering valuable entertainment at a more affordable price. 'We understand the importance of providing accessible and enjoyable content, and we believe this package delivers exceptional value,' said Astro chief sales and marketing officer Tai Kam Leong. Enhanced value As part of the package, all civil servants will also enjoy exclusive offers and discounts for the Astro One Entertainment and Sports packs. These offers make Astro's most popular packs more affordable and accessible for civil servants. Highlights include substantial savings of up to RM960 along with complimentary viewing of the Kids Add-On and free installation via Plug and Play. Full details on the offer are as below: The Astro One Entertainment Pack provides access to more than 100 channels with a captivating array of both local and international content designed to cater to every member in the family. Exclusive for civil servants at RM39.99/month (RRP: RM49.99), customers can indulge in popular shows like Big Stage Alpha, Dia Bukan Syurga, Seribu Tahun, Astro Originals' First Wives and many more. In addition, with free access to Astro GO, customers can stream their favourite content anytime, anywhere. Sports fans can opt for the Astro One Sports Pack, which has everything in the Astro One Entertainment Pack in addition to a sports-filled fiesta of live sports including the Premier League, Badminton World Federation (BWF) events, Liga Malaysia, Sepak Takraw League, Formula 1, MotoGP, cricket, tennis and more at only RM69.99/month (RRP: RM99.99). All customers on the civil servants offer will also enjoy complimentary Kids Add-On (RRP: RM9.99) with access to six channels for children such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, CBeebies and more. Astro is committed to supporting the well-being of the Malaysian community and recognises the indispensable contributions of civil servants to the nation's development. It believes that this initiative will not only provide value to civil servants but also strengthen the bond between Astro and the community it serves. Civil servants can visit the website or WhatsApp 03-9543 3838 to sign up for the "Tawaran Eksklusif untuk Penjawat Awam" packs. Proof of civil service employment or pension card (for retirees) will be required during the sign-up process. *Terms and conditions apply. Monthly discounted pricing and complimentary viewing valid for 24 months.
