Astro registers higher revenue growth

Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad registered a 12% revenue growth to RM2.6 billion for the first six months ending January 31, 2015.

Astro attributed the rise to higher Earnings Before Interest Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) of RM903 million and an increase of Profit After Tax (PAT) by 25% to RM266 million.

The company's higher earnings was contributed by its growing number of subscribers with a year-on-year growth of 4% for total Pay-TV customers of 3.48 million and a 116 per cent growth of NJOI customers of 678,000.

Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) increased three per cent to RM98, supported by higher take up of Astro's value-added products and services across the board.

An increase of TV viewership and radio listenership resulted in higher advertising revenues, up by seven per cent to RM290 million.

"We continue to execute our key strategies of growing customers base, increasing ARPU and driving advertising share.

"We are offering more choices in content and consumer packages, including Astro Superpack, Astro Valuepack and Astro Family Pack, as well as NJOI, Malaysia's first subsription-free satellite TV service," said Astro Chief Executive Officer Datuk Rohana Rozhan in a statement.

Out of the 4.2 million subscribers, more than 60% customers are on HD service (Q1FY15: 1.78 million, 636,000 are on Personal Video Recording (Q1FT15: 585,000), 359,000 are on Multi-room customers (Q1FY15: 335,000) while 961,000 adn 283,000 customers are enjoying Astro Superpack (Q1FY15: 918,000) and Astro Valuepack (Q1FY15, 24,000) respectively.

Astro's penetration of the Malaysian TV households increases from 54 per cent to 60 per cent.

Astro Radio retained its position as the number one radio station in all 4 languages.

"This has been a phonomenal quarter with unprecedented 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL coverage with a record TV viewership of 8.2 milion and 1.9 milion viewers on Astro On The Go and the Astro Go 2014 FIFA World Cup App," said Rohana.

The additional capacity from the launch of MEASAT-3b satellite will allow Astro to offer its customers more value-added products and services, particularly new HD channels.

Astro's recent collaboration with Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios where Astro is contracted to be the exclusive TV production services provider will assist in the effort to raise standard of local production and content as well as position Malaysia as the region's content hub.