Malaysia's TV operator to add more channels for Beijing Olympics

2008-04-01 21:53:33

Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's paid satellite television service operator Astro plans to add 10 channels for Beijing Olympics this year, its financial controller Mazhairul Jamaludin said in Cyberjaya, a cyber town near capital Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Astro will add four channels for Euro 2008 which will take place on June 7-29, he told reporters at the Conference on Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Market 2008.

Malaysia East Asia Satellite, Measat-3, was able to accommodate up to 130 channels, he said.

"Currently, Astro has 110 channels with the resident subscriber base of 2.27 million. Astro has launched a total of 30 channels last year," the national news agency Bernama quoted Mazhairul as saying.

Over the next one or two years, Astro planned to introduce more channels, depending on demand, he said.

Astro also planned to increase its spending on local contents this year, Mazhairul said.

"Astro allocates some 33 percent of its revenue on contents last year and will continue with the same quantum this year," he said.