Astro: Agility in Adapting to the New World
Date Released:29 Jul 2020
Share
Tweet
Underscores Strategy to Deepen Customer Engagement and Strengthen Value Proposition Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Against the backdrop of social distancing SOPs and guidelines, Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad ( Astro ) held its 8th Annual General Meeting ( AGM ) virtually today from All Asia Broadcast Centre, Bukit Jalil. The meeting was chaired by Tun Zaki Azmi, with the Directors, Group Chief Executive Officer Henry Tan and Astro Management in attendance. Shareholders and proxies participated remotely in the AGM and voted online. All 17 tabled resolutions were successfully passed.
Speaking at the AGM, Tun Zaki Azmi, Chairman of Astro said: Financial Year 2020 ( FY20 ) has been a busy and productive year for Astro, as we rolled out many new innovative products and solutions across business lines to meet the needs of our customer base, both households and individuals. Amid digital upheavals reshaping the media landscape, Astro delivered a positive FY20 financial performance, underpinned by a disciplined focus on operational efficiencies.
Henry Tan said: Inspired by the #kitajagakita spirit shown by Malaysians and Malaysian companies in helping each other overcome the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Astro quickly took a series of actions to support the nation, customers and communities.
We kept Malaysians informed and entertained with complimentary viewing of additional channels, broadcast learning content to all students, assisted in broadcasting over 3,000 hours of public service announcements, provided news coverage and debunked misinformation across our TV, radio and digital platforms. With the closure of cinemas, we worked with local film producers to premiere their movies direct to homes on Astro First. To alleviate the financial burden of our customers, we temporarily suspended disconnections and offered instalment payment plans, as well as a one-off rebate for Sport Pack customers. We also introduced flexible subscription and payment arrangements for commercial establishments.
Priorities Going Forward
Tan also shared with shareholders Astro's priorities as the nation focuses on recovery. He said: Astro aims to strengthen its position as the preferred Entertainment Destination for Malaysians, serving both homes and individuals. We will deepen engagement with our 5.7 million customers via new Astro experiences like 4K UHD and cloud recording on the Ultra Box, Broadband and eCommerce. Our content and broadband bundles offer even more value and convenience, as well as unlock our rich On Demand library of over 50,000 titles. Meanwhile, NJOI, our freemium TV service, offers Malaysians a compelling free TV proposition with options to purchase additional channels and content.
Concurrently, Astro is addressing individual needs through its video streaming services, radio, commerce and digital brands. The Group has 3 exclusive streaming services, namely Astro GO, HBO GO and iQIYI apps, offering even richer content slate and special privileges through these apps for its customers. The Group will be introducing more streaming services for its customers soon. Go Shop performed well during the MCO and is optimistic that the positive trend will sustain. Even as supply lines were disrupted, Go Shop pivoted into health-related products, fresh food and daily essentials as demand picked up.
Astro's swift response to support customers and Malaysians during the Movement Control Order was possible because of the critical building blocks put in place in FY20 to strengthen both its household and individual offerings.
Astro will deepen household engagement via Pay TV, Broadband and NJOI and reach more individuals through Streaming Services, Digital, Commerce and Radio.
In conclusion, Tan said: We have shown ourselves to be agile and responsive, driven by technology and digital; and leveraging on Astro's strengths - namely content, market reach and marketing capabilities. Astro is more than just a platform. Going forward, our focus is to produce more winning and compelling content; and concurrently innovate and simplify our offerings and customer experience. We will aggregate more streaming OTT services to be the digital content provider of choice. We will also continue to cost optimise, pursue active capital management and reprioritise capex to ensure financial headroom for a challenging year ahead. Astro Malaysia Integrated Annual Report 2020 and Corporate Governance Report 2020 are available for download on Bursa Malaysia website and Astro website.
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
07/08/2026
Opening Statement: Public hearing of the Inquiry into Racism, Hate and Violence ...
06/08/2026
Screen Australia and YouTube Australia fund five new teams through eleventh Skip...
04/08/2026
SBS helps Australians understand why every Census counts
Media releases
As Australia prepares for the 2026 Census on Tuesday 11 August, SBS is helping ensur...
30/07/2026
Premiere date revealed for SBS Original drama The Airport Chaplain, starring Hug...
29/07/2026
SBS Appoints Chief Commercial Officer and Director of Marketing and Audiences
29 July, 2026
Media releases
SBS is pleased to announce the appointment of Ni...
29/07/2026
Applications open for IFFI/WAVES Film Bazaar in Goa - Producer Delegation 28 July 2026
Image credit: Four Years Later
Screen Australia has opened applications...
23/07/2026
NITV launches new By Mob For Mob series in partnership with NRMA Insurance
23 July, 2026
Media releases
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has launched ...
23/07/2026
Screen Australia announces new national documentary accelerator program 23 July 2026
Screen Australia has today announced the Above the Line Documentary Accel...
21/07/2026
SBS scores biggest ever FIFA World Cup Reach as Spain triumph in the final
21 July, 2026
Media releases
Spain v Argentina attracted a Total TV reach of al...
17/07/2026
Legendary presenter Anton Enus to sign off from SBS World News after 27 years wi...
17/07/2026
Millions rise before dawn to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals on SBS
17 July, 2026
Media releases
England v Argentina attracted a Total TV reach of a...
16/07/2026
NITV and SBS bring Australians to the heart of Garma
16 July, 2026
Media releases
The Garma Festival returns from 31 July-3 August, with NITV and SBS deliv...
14/07/2026
Techtel Successfully Relocates AICD Broadcast Studio to New Sydney Headquarters
BroadcastBroadcast EquipmentLive StreamingBroadcast Studio2026
14 July Writ...
13/07/2026
Millions tuned in for quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on SBS
13 July, 2026
Media releases
Norway v England attracted a Total TV reach of 3.7 mil...
09/07/2026
SBS statement Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion
9 July, 2026
Media releases
SBS acknowledges the gravity of the matters before the Roy...
08/07/2026
Well over half of Australia have tuned in to watch the FIFA World Cup on SBS
7 July, 2026
Media releases
Australia's Round of 32 match against Egypt a...
08/07/2026
SBS and Koorie Heritage Trust announce three-year partnership to celebrate First...
08/07/2026
The right team. The right time.' How The Killings at Parrish Station stuck t...
08/07/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia launch FUTURE VISION Forward to elevate...
07/07/2026
New appointments to Screen Australia board 7 July 2026
The Albanese Labor Government has made new appointments to the Screen Australia board.
Dr Tania Chamber...
07/07/2026
The right team. The right time.' How The Killings at Parrish Station stuck t...
06/07/2026
Techtel debuts insyght: making ST 2110 media discovery easy
intellisphereinsyght2026
6 July Written By Suzanne Costello
Sydney, Australia - 06 July 2026 T...
03/07/2026
Caden Pearson appointed new Commissioning Editor for NITV
3 July, 2026
Media releases
National Indigenous Television (NITV) has strengthened its commitment...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia backs audience-led filmmaking with new insight-driven initiativ...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia refines guidelines for Narrative Content Development and Docume...
01/07/2026
Groundbreaking First Nations Screen Business Accelerator launched through nation...
30/06/2026
Statement regarding GetUp Save Our SBS' campaign
30 June, 2026
Media releases
The GetUp Save Our SBS' campaign is an independent initiative. SBS ...
27/06/2026
A record 4.84 million Australians choose SBS as the Socceroos advance at FIFA Wo...
25/06/2026
The Name You Know, The Lineup You'll Love - SBS2 Returns
25 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Viceland rebrands as SBS2 on Friday 21 August, bringing the c...
23/06/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia's talent development initiative UNT...
22/06/2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 fever grows, as more than one third of Australians tune in ...
18/06/2026
Techtel delivers Haivision live streaming system for TAFE NSW St Leonards, enabl...
16/06/2026
Australians place growing trust in SBS News
16 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has been recognised as one of Australia's most trusted news providers, ran...
16/06/2026
Share your views on Screen Australia and the future of the industry 15 June 2026
Your feedback matters.
Following the instrumental insights provided in 2025,...
16/06/2026
Techtel Supports T-Motion RCCP-2A Controller Upgrade for Major Australian Broadc...
15/06/2026
4.78M AUSSIES TUNE IN FOR SOCCEROOS WIN OVER T RK YE ON SBS
15 June, 2026
Media releases
Match had a Total TV average audience of 3.035 million, with over ...
15/06/2026
SBS Head of Commissioning John Godfrey to depart after 18 years
15 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Head of Commissioning John Godfrey will depart the broadca...
15/06/2026
Techtel Completes Media Production Setup for a major AFL sporting organisation
Sports
15 June Written By Suzanne Costello
(Sydney, Australia 15 June 2026)...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
11/06/2026
Australian Games Industry Glossary of Terms 10 June 2026
From DAU and EULA to COT and QADE, here's a list of game industry terms, industry jargon and their...
10/06/2026
Alone Australia Season 4: Meet the Cast
10 June, 2026
Media releases
WATCH THE TRAILER
Smash-hit survival series Alone Australia drops its highly anticipa...
10/06/2026
DEADLY THEN, DEADLY NOW, DEADLY ALWAYS: SBS & NITV IGNITE NAIDOC WEEK 2026 WITH ...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
03/06/2026
Clarification: SBS's position on definitions of antisemitism
3 June, 2026
Media releases
Statement by Mandi Wicks, SBS Director of News and Current Aff...
03/06/2026
Do not read this media release! Andy Lee's smash-hit show returns to ABC thi...
01/06/2026
SBS confirms its broadcast sponsors for FIFA World Cup 2026
1 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has secured Hyundai, Hisense, Macca's, Rexona, bet365, Com...
28/05/2026
Get fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with new SBS On Demand features for the ult...
28/05/2026
Six films, one unmissable collection. First Facts documentaries debut on 10 Stre...
Astro: Agility in Adapting to the New World 
