Malaysia launches free satellite TV, IPTV service

Wednesday 21 Dec 2011
The Malaysian government has launched a free satellite television service, The Star reports

Provided by Astro, the service, dubbed NJOI, features 18 television channels and 19 radio stations. It can be received by those who purchase an NJOI decoder and satellite dish.

Some 50,000 low-income earners will be the first to receive the decoders and satellite dishes donated by Astro under its corporate social responsibility programme

At the launch, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak commended Astro for reducing the digital gap among Malaysians.

The television channels featured include RTM’s TV1 and TV2, TVi, iView, i130, CCTV4, Bernama TV, and Astro’s home-grown channels such as Awani, AEC, Prima, and Vaanavil.

“Starting July next year, we will also enable a menu of add-on programmes for NJOI customers through a pre-paid system,” Astro Malaysia Holdings Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Rohana Rozhan said.

The programme will cost Astro RM100 million (US$31.7 million) in initial investment.

On Monday, The Star reported that the Malaysian government launched a new Internet protocol television (IPTV) service that can be accessed and viewed on smart devices.

1Malaysia TV can be accessed at www.1malaysiaiptv.com.my.

The service offers 11 channels including RTM’s TV1 and TV2, TV3, TV Al-Hijrah and CCTV News, and is targeted at viewers aged between 18 and 25.