Astro introduced B.yond IPTV in a collaboration with TIME dotCom Berhad (TIME) that brings an unparalleled multiplay of Astro channels in HD (High-Definition) with Personal Video Recording (PVR) and VOD (Video-on-Demand) services delivered via TIME’s 100% fibre broadband offering the fastest internet speed in the country. I was invited to a special preview of this in DoubleTree by Hilton and the demonstration was very impressive. I even had a chance to try it out!
Now, finally we could enjoy Astro Channels + Broadband + Voice (All in one) – Astro B.yond IPTV (Internet Protocol TV). Astro B.yond IPTV brings Malaysian to the next level of entertainment and communications that we never experience before.
Astro B.yond IPTV will be progressively available to 167,000 homes in 730 MDUs in the Klang Valley and Penang by the end of the year. At present, Astro B.yond IPTV is available at 60 high-rise condominiums within Mont Kiara, KLCC, Bangsar and Penang powered by TIME. Hope that I could enjoy the features soon (expected Q4 in Kelana Jaya area)!
Pricing & Flexible Packages of Astro B.yond IPTV
Astro B.yond IPTV comes with a flexible broadband package of your choice for as low as RM128 for 3Mbps per month, available on top of your current Astro subscription. Astro B.yond IPTV subscribers will be able to enjoy free high speed fibre broadband and VOD services until 30th June 2011. It’s affordable for the services that offered and we will definitely benefit from it.
They showed the demo of how the youtube video streaming and it’s in HD without any sweat! It’s a smooth entertainment experience utilizing the 100% Fibre Optic! I’m impressed with the speed and will definitely be happier if able to watch a streaming without any lag compared to my streaming experience now!
Astro Package + Broadband Package = Total amount you need to pay monthly.
Subscribers to IPTV packages will be able to watch content even in bad weather, as IPTV is not affected by rain unlike Astro’s current satellite TV service which will not be able to receive the signal thru the satellite.
There will be a dedicated bandwidth of 100 Mbps, which 70 Mbps will be used to support 2 concurrent Astro B.yond boxes, each of them simultaneously recording up to 2 HD channels while watching either one of the HD channel or the recorded HD content and downloading the third VOD programme in HD. Astro B.yond IPTV works on a progressive download basis which means that content becomes available to view within seconds before it is fully downloaded.
The remaining 30 Mbps will be supporting all connected devices such as laptops, tablet devices, mobile phones and games consoles on Wi-Fi within a single household. It ensures that you will not have an interrupted or laggy experience when watching youtube or online streaming media, that will be awesome right?
The control is in your hand! You can choose any channels or recorded movies or VOD at anytime!
There will be more than 130 live and on demand Astro channels inclusive of 12 HD channels, PVR and an updating library of VOD content that subscribes like you and me get to enjoy! With hundreds of great TV to choose from, subscribers can access popular VOD titles – dramas, wellness and children series. The Astro’s on demand library will be expanded with Latest Releases, the Week’s Best and Special Interest programmes so you will not get bored over time.
If Astro B.yond IPTV could implement something that we could just select a channel and surf with the TV + Keyboard but without required of a PC that would be cool and convenient right? Will that be possible? Hehe, if they could do it why not? I’m still waiting for the availability in Petaling Jaya.
Once Astro B.yond IPTV available in my area, I will get it! Will you?
Visit www.astro.com.my/iptv or call 03-9543 1543 for more details on packages and locations where the service is available.
Few weeks back, I was one of the few selected bloggers to do some shooting to promo Astro B.yond @ Desa Park City. What we required to do is just to tell our new year resolutions and comments on Astro B.yond HD. The environment at Desa Park City really nice and breathtaking.
The video man & crews! They are a bunch of funny and cool guys. They shoot Ho Chiak too. Haha.
This is how the setup for the Astro B.yond TVC shotting that to be published thru youtube, it did showcased to some 200 ppl that attended Astro B.yond Bloggers Night @ Modesto’s.
Yo! Yo! Yo!
Here’s the final production of the Bloggers’ New Year Resolutions and Comments on HD. Actually I have recorded few new year resolutions but maybe too bad that they took it away from the final video. Anyway it’s a cool experience of seeing myself in HD @ Astro B.yond Bloggers Night.
Any comments on the HD or the Bloggers promo clips? Haha…
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Astro have recently launched the first High Definition (HD) broadcast in Malaysia. Have you got yourself Astro B.yond HD yet? HD? Apa itu HD? “Hou Dim” in Cantonese ah? Haha… It’s High Definition la. You will be seeing this term everywhere when you go to look for LCD TV / Plasma TV. If you want a true HD experience please get yourself upgraded to Astor B.yond and you will not be regret, it’s crystal clear and you could see every single details on the screen! It’s true.
Talking about HD I still remember few years back when I was a promoter for Plasma and LCD TV (*yes, I work very hard even when I was young and do all all kind of part-time*), I keep mention to the prospect who wants to get new Plasma / LCD TV that Astro is going HD in few years so that they will actually get to the full use of the HD TV and true enough, I did not lie =p now, Astro is coming up with HD. Few years back it’s only HD and now all are talking about Full HD and LED TV, technology move really fast and if you do not keep up to it, you will be left behind. So you know what’s HD? Haha.
Few days back, Astro was having a bloggers night @ Modesto’s Desa Sri Hartamas where all the bloggers were invited to the event. When I reached Hartamas, only then I found out that Modesto’s shifted from the petrol station to next to the Bomba… hmm I think the previous place is nicer but the event actually held @ Rain Club next to it.
After registered ourselves then we need to write a new year resolution on the board… So I just written there “Yo! Yo! Yo!”, want to know why? Continue reading lo… =p
Hihi, My name is saimatkong…
The environment is nice and it’s good to have party there too!
Emcee of the night – Non (Deal or No Deal host)
Mr. Henry Tan, Chief Operating Office (COO) of Astro. He was telling us how the Astro B.yond bringing us the next level of experience in watching TV in HD.
5 LG HD LCD TV displaying Astro B.yond HD channels “ASTRO Supersport HD, HBO HD, National Geographic Channel HD, HISTORY HD and ESPN HD”
We were among the 1st 200 ppl in Malaysia to view the Astro HD TVC in HD format thru those 5 LG HD LCD TV display, the TVC really awesome and we requested to view it for the 2nd time and most importantly I appeared in HD too!
Check out how I appear in HD! Woots! Hehe… =p Yo! Yo! Yo! Now you know why I put that in the Astro Resolution Board.
Haha, feel I did badly in the Blogger segment where the selected bloggers get to share our new year resolutions and what we want / expect to see in HD.
Then it’s dinner time! Yes… damn hungry leh coz I was there since 7pm and have to tahan till almost 9pm leh, but luckily there’s some pizza serving before the event start. Thank you for being considerate about us! =)
The food was awesome! Yes, very good food I must say but not sure whether it’s due to my hungriness or not. You know la when you hungry what also nice one la… =p
While we were enjoying our food, there’s some life performance by live band or so called a group of musician.
Then there was a mystery murder case to be solved live and one of the bloggers could walk away with a 32″ LG High Definition TV and 1 year free subscription to Astro B.yond HD. The game was participated by 20 teams comprising 5 members each hunting every corner of the club with tiny magnifying glass to find clue and we need to guess the right murderer and one of the clue given was, the murderer is a Nuffies.
These were my partners in crime. vvens, benjicajess, joshuaongys and tallboyz!
Clues for Murderer in details is every where and every corner at the club, we need to use the magnifying glass to find the clue.
The clue is : “It’s a love triangle that gone bad”
For the clue above, we could know that it’s a girl that wearing “Red Dress”! and the other clue is “The killer is one of us. The murderer is mingling among us” Wow it’s getting difficult as we could not know who’s the one coz all of the Nuffies were wearing RED! OMG… Very kan cheong…
Then everyone continue searching for more clues…
Everyone was busy finding the clues and from here we could see that everyone want to be the winner badly… Haha who doesn’t want the LG HD LCD with 1 year Astro B.yond subscription right?
We guess the wrong murderer and was disqualified! =( Then, finally one team found the correct murderer it was Fresh!
Then there’s a live reply on how the murder case happened and how Fresh murdered sixthseal! LOL.
Then the team who found the correct murderer competed among themselves by answering 3 simple questions related to Asto B.yond.
1) When was the Astro B.yond launched?
2) What’s Astro’s facebook microsite?
3) What’s Astro B.yond’s facebook microsite?
Here’s the winner who walked away with the prize! Woots! So disappointed that it wasn’t me =(
Then all the bloggers started to camwhore which is what bloggers normally do. Haha. Nowadays you can see that everyone will be holding DSLR… I’m serious almost everyone. lol.
I still remember when I was young in primary school, I saw a hot air balloon flying around KL area and it written “Astro” on the balloon, that time I have no idea what was that and years later I’m a Astro subscriber and enjoy watching Astro. Haha.
HD? Apa itu HD? “Hou Dim” in Cantonese ah? Haha… It’s High Definition la. You will be seeing this term everywhere when you go to look for LCD TV / Plasma TV.
ASTRO today launched ASTRO B.yond, a multi-phased innovative service starting with the first ever High Definition (HD) broadcast, setting yet another new benchmark in Malaysia’s broadcast industry.
High-Definition is the latest in a long line of major improvements in television technology, which has moved from black-and-white analogue to widescreen colour digital over the last 50 years. With High-Definition, viewers will enjoy approximately five times the detail of standard definition television broadcast.
And now, Astro B.yond, Malaysia’s first High-Definition broadcast, brings you a complete sensory experience – sharper pictures, more vibrant colours, cinematic surround sound, and a wider screen. Combined, it gives you crystal clear details and a viewing experience like never before.
On HD content, ASTRO will show three key genres that are recognized as HD content drivers globally – sports, movies and documentaries. ASTRO will start with four HD channels – ASTRO Supersport HD, HBO HD, National Geographic Channel HD and HISTORY HD on 18 December 2009, followed by ESPN HD in January 2010. Sports fans will also be thrilled to know that they can soon watch FIFA World Cup 2010 in HD. ASTRO plans to roll out more HD channels, including local content, in 2010. I love drama and hopefully Wah Lai Toi Channel 311 & AEC Channel 301 will be the next HD Channels!
To experience Astro B.yond, you will require a brand new set-up, which consists of the following:
* 1 Astro B.yond Box
* 1 Astro B.yond Dish
* 1 new Smartcard
* 1 new Remote Control
* 1 HDMI Cable
As an Astro customer you can exchange your current Astro decoder to experience Astro B.yond for FREE. The above mentioned set-up gives you access to your favourite channels in High-Definition for an additional monthly service fee of only RM20. Kindly note that these High-Definition channels will correspond with your current subscription package(s).
I went for a shooting @ Desa Park City last Sunday for Astro B.yond tvc, come to see yourself on the Bloggers Night!
There’s around 10+ blogger went for the shooting @ Desa Park City, it’s a very nice environment and stay tuned for the video! =)
Date : 13 January 2010 (Wednesday)
Time : 7:30pm till 10.30pm
Venue : Modesto’s, Desa Sri Hartamas
It will be a fun night as Astro B.yond will enhance your visual and audio senses. Refreshments will be provided. Moreover there’s 3 units of Astro B.yond set comprising 32” LG High Definition TV, Astro B.yond box, new remote control and new outdoor dish to give out along with free subscription to Astro B.yond channels! Could you be the one of the winner? 1 Winner from the Murder Mystery Game and 2 winners for the best post-event coverage. You’ll only find out if you are attending the Astro B.yond Bloggers Night.
You must be a Fan of the Astro Facebook and stay tued for the announcement of the Murder Mystery Game on Facebook. To get the invite do check it out here.
Happy New Year! A new year start with a new HD Experience.
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