Thomson technology
to help drive Astro's growth strategy With over 1.8 million residential
TV subscribers across Malaysia, Astro is the largest multi-channel TV business
in Asia, outside Japan. The company is continuing to increase subscriber numbers
by extending the content and services it provides customers. The new Thomson
set-top box will enable Astro to launch the DVR service. In addition to the recording
functionality, advanced features such as pausing or rewinding live TV, will give
Astro subscribers greater control, choice and flexibility over what they watch
and when, than ever before. Customer acquisition is a priority for Astro and Thomson's
set-top box expertise and technology will provide it with fully-featured products
to help the operator achieve its new subscriber targets and tap new revenue streams,
informs the release.
"We are very excited to be launching
the new DVR technology in Malaysia, re-enforcing
our position of product innovator in the television
domain. The continued expansion of our subscriber
base in Malaysia is testament to the quality
and variety of programmes and services we
offer and the new generation platform is a
perfect example of our desire to lead the
field. We are very pleased to renew our long
term partnership with Thomson drawing on its
innovations, expertise and proven international
track record." said Astro Group COO David
Butorac.
"We are delighted to have achieved
yet another milestone as Astro's lead supplier
for set-top boxes," said Thomson CEO
Satellite, Terrestrial and Cable Business
unit Koen Van Driel.
"In selecting our DVR solution, Astro
has demonstrated its confidence in Thomson's
ability to bring advanced content-delivery
platforms to market. When taken with our
agreements with major operators in the region
such as Starhub in Singapore, AUSTAR in
Australia and Tata Sky in India , this contract
places Thomson at the forefront of the Asia-Pacific
set-top box market," he concluded.
| 
