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Astro TV Indonesia temporarily off air
Antara , Jakarta | Fri, 04/11/2008 3:29 PM | Headlines
The Information and Communications Ministry on Friday temporarily suspended the operations of pay TV provider Astro Nusantara.The ministry's acting spokesman, Freddy Tulung, said the suspension was related to the failure of Astro partner PT Direct Vision to pay an obligatory fee.
Astro operator Direct Vision posted an announcement on its website that as of 10 a.m. on Friday, Astro was off the air.
Freddy said the ministry would allow Astro to return to the air once Direct Vision fulfilled all of its obligations. (***)
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Dennis G. Kloeth (not verified) — Sun, 04/13/2008 - 10:13pm
On Saturday I had sent in a letter to the Jakarta Post Readers Forum with a complaint about Astro TV poor performance towards it subscribers. This afternoon I heard from a source close to Astro that they had actually fulfilled all their payments to the government and that the case of suspension of Astro's operations had to do with Astro not willing to pay extra (hidden)fees that usually end up in the pockets of government officials. The other possible reason given, was that local satelite tv provider Indovision/Kabelvision actually had bribed government officials that are in the position to take Astro from the airwaves and mainly because Indovision/Kabelvision lost thousands of clients to Astro after they had lost the bidding for the EPL.
Whatever the reason, subscribers should never be made victims of weeling and dealing between money hungry government officials and corporate companies that provide a service for which ordinary citizens pay.
In Indonesia anything is possible so I am not sure who really tells the truth here. In this case, I give both parties the dubious benefit of the doubt.
Dennis G. Kloeth
The Reader (not verified) — Sun, 04/13/2008 - 12:57pm
It is going to be very interesting to see how Astro deal with this vis-a-vis their customers. So far the customer service has been very good. I think it will be revealing to the customers as to whether Astro is going to continue down a path of unreliability, or whether this event was a one-off as a result of dubious government administration.
Noname (not verified) — Sun, 04/13/2008 - 12:47pm
Astro is sucks!!!! No matter what happens to them, whether they failed to pay fee or whatever story they made-up, still they are not responsible to the customers at all!! They monopolized the EPL broadcasting and yet fail to deliver the commitment to the subscriber. The loyal subscriber should prepare to bring them in court with class-action persecution.
Info- sucess (not verified) — Sun, 04/13/2008 - 6:43am
Astro nusantara should be allowed to transmit. These channels on astro TV are of high quality value in knowledge to all viewers anywhere.
Indonesian people gain a lot from these channels which cover many nations/many languages in world TV channels.
Astro is 7 billion ringgit company that is global in outlook.
Monetary collections for operations can be collected in due time.
As I understand Astro recorded a big loss in these operations with astro nusantara.
They astro nusantara should be given more help in recovery of loses and upgrading of services to improve subcriptions to their service.
Another reader (not verified) — Sat, 04/12/2008 - 6:56pm
From Astro’s side: how can you possibly allow this to happen? The harm done to your company will cost you dearly, not only in the damage to consumer confidence, but also in the trust you have lost from your business partners and sponsors. Great PR!
If it is about unpaid fees, one must also question if such an extreme action by the Ministry of Information and Communication was the right course or even necessary. There are underlying costs to the nation that maybe should have been calculated in beforehand? Would it not have been wiser and cleaner to take Astro to court, where they would have been forced to pay their bills, along with legal costs and a fine?
Mark Gibbs (not verified) — Sat, 04/12/2008 - 11:09am
There is more to this story. I called Astro several times to ascertain what is going on. It seems that they suspect Indovision is behind this. Astro insist that they have paid ALL necessary fees and licences, but that their competitors have bribed government officials to close them down. Indovision having lost a lot of its customers to Astro because Indovision failed to secure the rights to the English Premiership. This is extremely believable, as it happens all the time here. As a foreign investor myself, I have experienced harrassment from the authorities at the behest of my local competitors.
The Reader (not verified) — Sat, 04/12/2008 - 10:30am
The comments of the last reader were correct on likely motives -- moneygrabbing & imcompetence -- unfortunately the comments were misdirected. Remember this is the same Depkominfo that forced Astro to share the football matches it had paid for with those who lost the bidding. And the same Depkominfo that can't protect its own website from hackers. And the same Depkominfo that blocked youtube and myspace on the same day legislators were debating a new freedom of information bill. Sounds more like Deppen for those who remember....
The Reader (not verified) — Sat, 04/12/2008 - 9:23am
And to think I was about to sign up with them in my new house.
The Reader (not verified) — Sat, 04/12/2008 - 7:27am
I don't believe it.
Its more likely because Astro showed the "Fitna" Movie or at least parts of it, on one of his channels somewhere last week, as i have seen.
It is incredibly what level of stupidity this government reaches.
What's next? Cutting of all cell phone connections to oversees?
Its so sad but laughable, why cant someone give back the Lolli to Mr. Mohammed Nur that he can stop crying...
If its keep with this speed, in a couple of weeks Indonesia will be back in the middle ages.
The Reader (not verified) — Fri, 04/11/2008 - 7:09pm
This hardly comes as a surprise, and what is especially appalling is what has been posted on the website - as if Astro customers care what the reference number of the letter is from the Department of Communication is. It was good while it lasted, but it looks like Astro is about to travel down the path of many hopeful ventures in Indonesia; poor and unreliable service with moneygrabbing ownership and incompetent management.