New Malaysian digital service targets 80% TV households in 5 years

Malaysia’s newest digital cable TV company, the ABN Media Group, began offering trials of its ABNxcess services in June this year and is targeting to reach 80 percent of the country’s six million TV households within five years, thestar.com reports

Asian Broadcasting Network (M) Sdn Bhd (ABN) President and CEO Sreedhar Subramaniam said, “Our service is now available in Sri Damansara, parts of Subang and we will begin broadcasting in two areas in Johor Baru this month.

“Early next year we will extend our services in areas in Penang, Ampang and Puchong,” he added.

ABN, a unit of ABN Media Group, is in direct competition with satellite pay-TV operator Astro and IPTV provider, Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

The company is offering 50 linear channels for its basic package which includes information, education and entertainment channels, some games and also radio channels. Video on demand and sports packages will also be made available soon.

ABN is also planning to set up a 24-hour news channels in the second quarter of 2013.