
Astro Delivers Strong Q2FY20 PATAMI at RM169mn
Date Released:12 Sep 2019
Share
Tweet
Result highlights for the second quarter of the financial year ending 31 January 2020 (Q2FY20)
Revenue -13% y-o-y at RM1.2bn
EBITDA 51% y-o-y to RM437mn
PATAMI 920% y-o-y to RM169mn; underpinned by cost discipline measures
Strong FCF of RM346mn enables second interim dividend of 2 sen per share
Pay-TV ARPU 10 sen y-o-y to RM100
TV Adex 8% y-o-y to RM86mn
Tun Zaki Azmi, Chairman of Astro, said: In a competitive media landscape, Astro remains highly cash generative, cost disciplined and proactive in its capital management. The Board is pleased to declare a second interim dividend of 2 sen per share.
Henry Tan, Chief Executive Officer of Astro, said: Astro continues to deliver strong PATAMI with rigorous cost discipline to optimise content spend and operating expenses. Concurrently, we are putting in place building blocks for new revenue adjacencies, specifically in broadband and content bundles with Maxis and in OTT through our strategic partnerships with iQIYI and HBO Asia; with more partnerships in the coming months.
Key Operational Highlights:
Leading share of Malaysian TV households: Astro continues to entertain and engage with 5.7mn, or 76% of Malaysian TV households with its signature vernacular and premium content as well as the biggest live sports on our Pay-TV and NJOI platforms.
Rising consumption on all platforms: Astro's TV viewership share is market leading at 75%. Over 1.0mn connected set-top-boxes*, up 11% y-o-y, drove growth in On Demand video downloads by 38% to 33mn and average weekly viewing by 11% to 462 minutes. Meanwhile, Astro GO's registered users rose by 19% to 2.3mn and their average weekly viewing increased by 27% to 207 minutes.
Outperforming industry Adex in 1HFY20: While Astro's total Adex in 1HFY20 declined by 3% to RM302mn, it outperformed industry Adex, which saw a 5% contraction. Astro's share of TV Adex rose by 3 percentage points to 44% and share of Radex increased by 6 percentage points to 80%.
In Q2FY20, Astro's TV Adex grew 8% y-o-y to RM86mn, supported by strong TV viewership share. Digital Adex stood at RM12mn, underpinned by average monthly unique viewers of 10.1mn across its digital brands such as Astro Awani, Gempak, Xuan, Ulagam and Stadium Astro.
Key Initiatives:
Introducing a new user experience: Astro GO has introduced a new user interface in July for easier navigation, better content discoverability, enhanced search and recommendations based on viewing behaviour. With the new Astro GO, users can access over 50,000 On Demand titles anytime, anywhere on mobile devices. Astro will soon launch its Ultra Box, offering new viewing experience such as 4K-Ultra HD and cloud recording that allows unlimited programmes to be recorded.
Radio on the GO and much more: SYOK app, a multilingual entertainment and lifestyle platform, was launched in end-June and saw a healthy take-up with an average 51 minutes time spent per session. SYOK offers access to Astro's 25 radio brands, podcasts, original videos, as well as the latest news and traffic updates.
Local and vernacular content continues to drive fan engagement:
Astro Shaw movies continue its winning strides: Boboiboy Movie 2, a collaboration with leading animation producer, Animonsta, became the highest grossing animated film in Malaysia with box office sales of RM29mn, beating Hollywood titles such as The Incredibles 2, Big Hero 6, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and Frozen. Meanwhile, Malaysia's first martial arts movie, Sangkar, a collaboration between Media Prima, Infinitus Gold and MM2 Entertainment, was released on 29 August.
Astro original IPs continue to grow from strength to strength: Astro's latest dramas, Curi-Curi Cinta, Setelah Terlafaznya Akad and Sweet Dreams garnered TV viewership of 3.2mn, 2.6mn and 2.4mn respectively. Its reality talent shows such as Muzikal Lawak SuperStar registered TV viewership of 1.7mn while Big Stage 2019 expanded its arena beyond Malaysian shores with participation of talents from South Korea Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei. It achieved TV viewership of 1.3mn.
Omar & Hana licensed to Indonesia's leading telecommunications operator, Telkomsel: Astro's faith-inspired singalong kids IP, Omar & Hana, is now available on Telkomsel's video streaming app, MAXstream.
First iQIYI branded channel: Following the announcement on our strategic partnership with China's No. 1 video streaming platform, Astro has launched the world's first iQIYI branded channel, iQIYI HD. It offers exclusive and the latest iQIYI originals such as hit drama series, movies, reality and variety content for Astro customers.
Outlook
The market remains challenging with structural changes in the global content, media and advertising industries, including threat of piracy. Astro's focus is to strengthen its core Pay-TV and NJOI businesses by redefining customer value propositions, elevating customer service and refreshing content. The company will leverage on its customer base to build new revenue adjacencies in broadband, OTT, digital and commerce. Cost optimisation efforts will continue. *Connected set-top boxes (STBs) are internet-ready with recording functionality and have access to Astro's On Demand library of content
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
09/07/2025
Explore Love Without Limits in a bold, funny and unapologetic SBS Audio podcast ...
08/07/2025
SBS strengthens commitment to inclusion with new commissioning guidelines
8 July, 2025
Media releases
SBS has launched new Commissioning Inclusion Guidelin...
08/07/2025
Secrets, Spies and Sabotage: 40 years on, SBS podcast investigates historic bomb...
07/07/2025
SBS Farewells Chair George Savvides AM
7 July, 2025
Media releases
Born of Greek Cypriot parents, Mr Savvides joined the SBS Board as Deputy Chair in Febru...
30/06/2025
SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel
30 June, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offeri...
27/06/2025
27 06 2025 - Media release Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong
Marton Csokas and Lila McGuire of Goolagong. Image c...
26/06/2025
Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On De...
20/06/2025
Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Au...
13/06/2025
Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic spor...
12/06/2025
50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celeb...
06/06/2025
06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...
03/06/2025
Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Origin...
28/05/2025
SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia
28 May, 2025
Media releases
Marking 50 years of broadcasting on 9 June 2025, SBS...
28/05/2025
ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transf...
22/05/2025
SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with ...
22/05/2025
Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast
22 May, 2025
Media releases
Ever caught yourself using baby talk with your pet and wondered ...
19/05/2025
Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 m...
16/05/2025
Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced
16 May, 2025
Media releases
Screen Australia's First Nations Department, the Australian Broadcasting Cor...
15/05/2025
Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There...
15/05/2025
We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS
15 May, 2025
Media releases
The We Go There Hub brings together over 300 ti...
14/05/2025
ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe,...
13/05/2025
Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion
13 May, 2025
Media releases
As the latest season nears its end, SBS's hit series brings full cast together for re...
13/05/2025
Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...
12/05/2025
And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS,...
12/05/2025
10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...
07/05/2025
SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recogni...
07/05/2025
SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location
7 May, 2025
Media releases
SBS has today launched a Request for Expressions of Intere...
02/05/2025
SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Hand...
01/05/2025
01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives
All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...
30/04/2025
Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award
30 April, 2025
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla...
30/04/2025
SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives
30 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ...
23/04/2025
We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it ...
22/04/2025
McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championshi...
16/04/2025
Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Susta...
15/04/2025
Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lif...
15/04/2025
SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Champions...
14/04/2025
SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduc...
11/04/2025
Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo to...
09/04/2025
SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering
9 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offering with the...
09/04/2025
SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as E...
09/04/2025
09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase
Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...
07/04/2025
Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS comme...
07/04/2025
Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election ye...
07/04/2025
SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key is...
04/04/2025
SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...
01/04/2025
01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June
Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...
31/03/2025
Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new politica...
28/03/2025
Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and fam...
28/03/2025
SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages
28 March, 2025
Media releases
As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia...