A deal whereby Astro provided “support and services” to the Indonesian pay-TV operator, as well as its brand name, initially expired on August 30. But Astro agreed to extend that for a month to allow PT Direct Vision, backed by the Lippo Group, to make alternative arrangements.

Now the deal has been further extended. In a statement, Astro said: “We had announced that pursuant to requests by PTDV, Astro has, as a gesture of goodwill and in good faith, agreed to continue providing support and services and granted an extension of the Trademark Licence Agreement up to 30 September 2008.

“We wish to announce that pursuant to a further request by PT DV, Astro has, on 30 September 2008, again purely as a gesture of goodwill and in good faith, agreed to further extend the period for the provision of support and services and the Trademark Licence Agreement up to 19 October 2008.

“The cost to provide services for this period will amount to approximately RM20 million and has already been accounted for in the Group's financial results for the second quarter ended 31 July 2008 previously announced.”

Local reports, including one earlier in the week in Indonesia’s Jakarta Post, put Astro’s move down to an expression of goodwill over the Idul Fitri holiday, celebrated in the Muslim world on Oct 1 and 2. But there is generally little goodwill between Astro and the Lippo Group, with PT Direct Vision reportedly looking at compensation from Astro, despite Astro’s writedowns of its losses in the venture over the last few months.

© Rapid TV News 2008