|
Another Indo partner for Astro? |
| Print |
|
Forward
|
| Rose Major, on 07-09-2008 |
Astro All Asia Networks, the Malaysian media company, is reportedly planning a tie-up with another Indonesian pay-TV operator, following the end of its contract with PT Direct Vision (PTDV).
According to Media Partners Asia, Astro is likely now to link with PT
Karyamegah Adijah, which operates the Aora TV satellite platform.
PTDV’s 130,000 subs “could be” transferred to PTKA in which Astro is
“likely” to invest, MPA said. PTKA appears to be backed by a former
government minister, Rini Soemarno.
Aora TV launched in August 2008 and had exclusive pay-TV rights to the
2008 Beijing Olympics which were screened across four channels. The
platform also has exclusive pay-TV rights for English Premier League
football, offering all of the matches as part of a package including
ESPN Star Sports as well as the Premier League.
With no terrestrial broadcasters screening the competition, Aora TV
seems to have won itself exclusive rights to Premier League football in
Indonesia for a reported US$20 million, although Astro and ESPN Star
Sports claimed that discussions wih free-to-air stations were
“underway”. And the new platform has attracted the attentions of the
Indonesian broadcast regulator, the KPI, which is threatening to
regulate against the exclusive contract.
Astro’s involvement seems to be key in the Premier League deal.
According to a press release, the deal was between PTKA, ESPN Star
Sports and All Asia Multimedia Network, a division of Astro. AAMN is
“involved in the aggregation and distribution of TV channel content and
in the supply of broadcasting equipment and services to traditional and
new media broadcast service providers.”
At the moment, Aora TV is offering just 12 channels as an
“introductory” service but is promising a full-commercial launch in the
first quarter of 2009 with “at least” 50 channels. CNN, Boomerang, The
History Channel, Crime and Investigation and Hallmark are all currently
offered, along with ESPN Star Sports’ channels and local services
Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI), SCTV and TV One.
|
