Astro launches Astro
Best to bring its 3.1 million customers/homes the hottest Hollywood and
Asian Movies available on both DTH (Direct-To-Home) satellite and IPTV (Internet
Protocol Television) platforms.
Astro B.yond VOD is Astro's internet delivered
video-on-demand (VOD) service, offering hundreds of hours of great TV to choose
from - thus giving Astro customers more control and choice over how they enjoy
entertainment.
Amongst the new titles added to Astro B.yond VOD are exciting box
office titles such as “50/50,” “Man On A Ledge” “Abduction,” “Here,” “Teddy
Bear” as well as Asian and Bollywood movies such as “Nightmare,” “Ghost On Air” “Ashoka” “Chalte
Chalte” “Penny Pinchers” and many more. The title lineup on Catch Up TV
includes “Oh My English,” Korean and Chinese dramas such as “City Hunter,”
“Palace II,” and “The Other Truth,” as well as Disney favourites such as
“Phineas and Ferb” and “Upin and Ipin” with more catch up titles refreshed
daily. Selected VOD content is also available online and on mobile via Astro
On-The-Go service which is currently free for all customers.
Henry Tan, Chief Operating Officer, Astro said, “Today, Astro launches Astro Best to provide our customers with more titles to view Hollywood and Asian movies at an earlier window compared to the usual Pay TV channels. Astro Best is launched at the back of the phenomenal success of Astro First, which has set a new global benchmark for Pay Per View movie offerings. Customers with an Astro B.yond PVR internet connected box will also be able to access a bigger library of films, popular entertainment and drama ‘box-sets', documentaries, catch up titles, Astro First and Astro Best titles through Astro B.yond Video-on-Demand (VOD).”
With Astro Best, customers can now watch Hollywood and Asian titles as early as three months after the movies' cinema release and where available in stunning High Definition in the comfort of their homes. Starting today, customers can purchase Astro Best Hollywood titles –“ Marvel’s The Avengers”, “The Hunger Games” and the hit Korean movie chronicling the rise to stardom of several KPop artistes, “I AM: SM Town Live Tour in Madison Square” on Astro Channel 481, at RM10 per movie, available for 48 hours after purchase. Future titles of Astro Best include, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “The Cabin in The Woods”.
Customers can purchase Astro Best movies via SMS on Astro Channel 481 at RM10 per movie with up to 12 different viewing times for each movie, giving Astro customers the convenience of watching it anytime within 48-hours upon purchase.
Astro is working with international studios like The Walt Disney Company, Lionsgate, Sundance Channel, Animax, Fortune Star, CJ Media and Unitel Classica so that Malaysians can access the studios’ library of Hollywood and Asian titles. Astro Best is a significant milestone in Astro’s partnership with international studios to provide an unmatched value proposition of bringing the hottest cinema titles to your home. By broadening the distribution of movies and allowing an extended viewing period beyond the cinema time frame, we are confident that more international and regional players will join us in delivering a new movie experience to more than 3 million Astro homes.
Adam C emceeing the event
“At Disney, we are proud of the unrivalled strength of our creative engines, and our focus to deliver stories to consumers on multiple platforms. Disney, Pixar and Marvel movies will now bring back fun family times into the living rooms of Malaysian homes in a whole new way. Together with our prized partner - Astro, we innovate in unique and different ways in order to better serve our fans here on the platform of their choice,”said Amit Malhotra, GM – Media Distribution and Sales, The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia).
“We are delighted to partner with Astro to launch their new offering with “The Hunger Games”, the first film in our global blockbuster franchise, and coming soon “Cabin in The Woods” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” said Wendy Reeds, Executive Vice President, Content Sales & Distribution, for Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE). “Astro is a valued partner in our CTE content distribution and channel venture, and we believe that the popularity of these initial titles is indicative of the pipeline of commercially exciting, quality films that Lionsgate will deliver to the Astro platform in the years to come.”
“Through SPT Networks’ strategic partnership with Astro, we are excited to launch Animax video on demand content in Malaysia. This will give fans the opportunity to watch newly released anime from Japan and a selection of popular anime series from top animation studios, whenever they want in Bahasa Malaysia audio or subtitles. We look forward to working with Astro to offer even more exciting anime programs in the future,” said Ricky Ow, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.
“At Sundance Channel, we are incredibly proud of the strong partnership we have forged with Astro. It is tremendously exciting to now launch our transactional on demand service so that Astro customers will have access to high quality, compelling independent films that are still in their US theatrical windows. We are confident that Astro subscribers will respond to these offerings and we look forward to delivering an increasing number of exclusive programs in the coming months and years.” said Bruce Tuchman, President, AMC/Sundance Channel Global.
From left: Voo Chih Yeong, VP Affiliate Sales & Marketing, SPE Networks - Asia Pte Ltd, Wendy Reeds, Executive Vice President, Lionsgate, Amit Malhotra, VP and General Manager Media Distribution & Sales, Disney Media Distribution, Henry Tan, Chief Operatiing Officer of ASTRO, Liew Swee Lin, Chief Commercial Officer, ASTRO, Agnes Rozario, VP Content Management Group ASTRO & Brian Lenz, Chief Innovation Officer ASTRO
Henry, Swee Lin and Brian at the press conference
Agnes, Henry and Swee Lin fielding questions from the press
Henry Tan having a one-to-one interview with Adam C
Adam C in full concentration during the interview with distraction from the The Avengers "bodyguarding" them
The Avengers made an appearance at the launch to the delight of the media and guests
Adam C can't resist a picture with his favourite comic characters coming to live
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