
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
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...