Astro back on air again Monday

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 04/15/2008 11:40 AM  |  Business

Malaysia-based pay TV operator Astro resumed broadcasting here Monday night after being blocked by the government following failures to meet obligations since Friday morning.

The Communication and Information Ministry issued a permit Monday afternoon, saying Astro operations met all necessary requirements including passing the fit and proper test.

"The government completed its inspection of Astro's operations this afternoon," director general for Post and Telecommunications Basuki Yusuf Iskandar told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Basuki said the broadcast permit was issued at 6 p.m. and Astro should be able to start broadcasting three hours afterwards.

Other resolved shortcomings included Astro's failure to pay frequency band license fees, report its the head office had relocated and showing proof of permission to use a satellite.

In a statement sent to the Post, PT Direct Vision (the local company managing Astro's operations here) said it was grateful for the lifting of the block and that it would reduce customers' monthly charges by four days.

"We completely understand all the regulations we were reminded of. In future, we will always abide by all government regulations," Direct Vision president director Halim Mahfudz said.

Previously on Sunday, the company had received more than 18,200 complaints from customers since broadcasts were suspended, with many threatening to cancel their subscriptions if the block is not resolved within a week, Halim said.

Astro, which began operations in 2006, broadcasts via satellite in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

Currently, there are four other major players in the pay TV industry -- some using satellite connections and some using cable -- including Indovision, Indosat IM2, First Media and Telkom Vision. Astro, however, is the only one with exclusive rights to broadcast live English Premiere League matches, as of last year.

Around 500,000 households in the country are subscribers to pay TV services using satellite technology while 200,000 rely on ground cable connections. (rff)

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