Astro B.yond
Encyclopedia
Astro B.yond is the brand name of a multi-phased innovative service startiving with the first ever HDTV
service launched by Malaysian pay television provider Astro on 18 December 2009.
HD channels is broadcast primarily in 1080i
and when required 720p
resolution, and if available will also broadcast Dolby Digital 5.1
surround sound
.
The roll out of these services is estimated to cost some RM200 million, including marketing and operating costs of approximately RM150 million, over the next financial year, ahead of revenue and earnings from these services.
An additional RM20 is charged for HD services on top of existing subscriptions from April 2010. Viewers will only get HD channels for packages that they have already subscribed for. On 12 July, Astro B.yond upgraded to 3D
for the final match of World Cup 2010. At both times, subscribers only need a 3D technology TV and a 3D glasses to watch in 3D.
for the HD channels, and falls back to DVB-S
for SD channels. Astro B.yond introduced Digital Video Recording (DVR) on 1 June 2010, and later Video on Demand (VOD) and IPTV connectivity over the period of 24 months.
The basic set top box used to deliver the service is a Pace DS-830NA. It allows for recording to compatible hard disks (currently only the Western Digital
MyPassport AV 320GB) attached through the USB port.
A different receiver (model unknown, but also from Pace) comes with a built-in hard disk that provides 500 GB of recording capacity and other features typical of digital video recorder
s such as pausing and rewinding live TV, recording up to two channels at once while watching one or while watching a previously recorded program, and scheduling recordings by time or program name.
Usage of the recording feature requires an additional RM10 monthly recording fee for Astro B.yond PVR while a RM5 monthly recording fee is for recording using the Astro B.yond Box via an External Hard Disk.
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
service launched by Malaysian pay television provider Astro on 18 December 2009.
HD channels is broadcast primarily in 1080i
1080i
1080i is the shorthand name for a high-definition television mode. The i means interlaced video; 1080i differs from 1080p, in which the p stands for progressive scan. The term 1080i assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a frame size of 1920×1080 pixels...
and when required 720p
720p
720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan...
resolution, and if available will also broadcast Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the name for audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories. It was originally called Dolby Stereo Digital until 1994. Except for Dolby TrueHD, the audio compression is lossy. The first use of Dolby Digital was to provide digital sound in cinemas from 35mm film prints...
surround sound
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
.
The roll out of these services is estimated to cost some RM200 million, including marketing and operating costs of approximately RM150 million, over the next financial year, ahead of revenue and earnings from these services.
An additional RM20 is charged for HD services on top of existing subscriptions from April 2010. Viewers will only get HD channels for packages that they have already subscribed for. On 12 July, Astro B.yond upgraded to 3D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
for the final match of World Cup 2010. At both times, subscribers only need a 3D technology TV and a 3D glasses to watch in 3D.
Technology
Astro currently uses DVB-S2DVB-S2
Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite - Second Generation is a digital television broadcast standard that has been designed as a successor for the popular DVB-S system. It was developed in 2003 by the , an international industry consortium, and ratified by ETSI in March 2005...
for the HD channels, and falls back to DVB-S
DVB-S
DVB-S is an abbreviation for Digital Video Broadcasting — Satellite; it is the original Digital Video Broadcasting forward error coding and demodulation standard for satellite television and dates from 1994, in its first release, while development lasted from 1993 to 1997...
for SD channels. Astro B.yond introduced Digital Video Recording (DVR) on 1 June 2010, and later Video on Demand (VOD) and IPTV connectivity over the period of 24 months.
The basic set top box used to deliver the service is a Pace DS-830NA. It allows for recording to compatible hard disks (currently only the Western Digital
Western Digital
Western Digital Corporation is one of the largest computer hard disk drive manufacturers in the world. It has a long history in the electronics industry as an integrated circuit maker and a storage products company. Western Digital was founded on April 23, 1970 by Alvin B...
MyPassport AV 320GB) attached through the USB port.
A different receiver (model unknown, but also from Pace) comes with a built-in hard disk that provides 500 GB of recording capacity and other features typical of digital video recorder
Digital video recorder
A digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
s such as pausing and rewinding live TV, recording up to two channels at once while watching one or while watching a previously recorded program, and scheduling recordings by time or program name.
Usage of the recording feature requires an additional RM10 monthly recording fee for Astro B.yond PVR while a RM5 monthly recording fee is for recording using the Astro B.yond Box via an External Hard Disk.
HD Channels Line-up
| Channel | Name | Package(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 310 | Astro Zhi Zun HD | Dynasty | In-house Chinese entertainment channel |
| 393 | SET ONE HD SET One ONE is a pay-tv, cable and satellite TV channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. It is currently available in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia, and with plans to deliver the channel throughout the 18 countries around the Asia-Pacific region... |
Preview | Asian general entertainment channel |
| 431 | HBO HD HBO Asia HBO Asia is a franchise of HBO in Asia. HBO Asia is now a joint venture of media giants Viacom and Time Warner . Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Studios exited the fifteen year-old HBO Asia premium movie joint venture on January 16, 2008.... |
Movies | +1hour of HBO Asia |
| 433 | STAR Movies HD STAR Movies STAR Movies is an Asian movie channel owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, subsidiaries of News Corporation.-History:STAR Movies was launched on 1 May 1994... |
Movies | Simulcast of Star Movies |
| 438 | Sundance Channel HD | Movies | Independently produced films and documentaries channel |
| 571 | Discovery HD World Discovery HD World Discovery HD World , is a satellite and cable TV subscription channel that provides documentary and non-fiction programming; focuses primarily on science, technology, history and culture. It is operated by Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, a division of Discovery Communications Inc... |
Learning | Documentaries on science Science Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe... , technology Technology Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;... and history History History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians... |
| 573 | National Geographic Channel HD National Geographic Channel (Asia) The National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated as Nat Geo, is an Asian subscription television channel that features non-fiction, factual programming involving nature, science, culture, and history, produced by the National Geographic Society, just like History and the Discovery... |
Learning | Documentaries on wildlife, nature & science |
| 575 | History HD History (South East Asian TV channel) History is an Asian television channel with shows on historical events and persons. The channel is owned by AETN All Asia Networks, a joint-venture between A&E Television Networks, owner of the American History, and Astro Holdings Sdn Bhd.- Company :AETN All Asia Networks was formed on 15 June... |
Learning | Selected documentaries on world history and culture |
| 706 | Astro Lifestyle HD | Preview | In-house lifestyle channel which airs programmes from Food Network Asia HD Food Network Asia Food Network Asia is a television channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking from the Food Network's library as well as commissioned programming developed regionally. Food Network Asia launched July 5, 2010 on StarHub TV Singapore channel 433.The channel is also... food and cooking channel from 9am-9pm daily and at primetime 9pm onwards, the channel will broadcast shows from Life Inspired TV Li (TV channel) Li is a 24-hour high-definition television network in Asia. Launched in 2009, Li airs lifestyle-related programmes such as those pertaining to food, home, wellness, travel and style.... |
| 720 | AXN Beyond HD AXN Beyond AXN Beyond is a cable and satellite TV channel, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment in the Asia-Pacific. Launched on January 1, 2008, the channel is a spin-off of the popular TV channel AXN Asia, It is available in throughout the 18 countries around the Asia-Pacific region and features programmes... |
Family | A popular English series and entertainment channel |
| 721 | AXN HD AXN Asia AXN Asia is a pay-tv, cable and satellite TV channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. It is available in throughout the 18 countries around the Asia-Pacific region... |
Family | A popular English series and entertainment channel |
| 726 | FX HD | Preview | Selected English series and entertainment channel |
| 831 | Astro SuperSport HD Astro SuperSport Astro SuperSport 2 is the first sister channel of Astro SuperSport. Launched on November 18, 2009, it is broadcast on Astro via Channel 816. Sporting events that are aired on this network events include the BWF Super Series, the ATP World Tour Finals, the Bundesliga, the Ligue 1 as well as American... |
Sports | Live international sports channel |
| 832 | ESPN HD ESPN Star Sports ESPN Star Sports is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and News Corporation... |
Sports | Live international sports channel (Selected sport events from ESPN) |
| 833 | Astro SuperSport HD 2 Astro SuperSport Astro SuperSport 2 is the first sister channel of Astro SuperSport. Launched on November 18, 2009, it is broadcast on Astro via Channel 816. Sporting events that are aired on this network events include the BWF Super Series, the ATP World Tour Finals, the Bundesliga, the Ligue 1 as well as American... |
Sports | Live international sports channel 2 |
HD Channels Coming Soon
| Channel | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 531 | Disney Channel HD Disney Channel Asia Disney Channel Asia, a franchise of Disney Channel, airs in most parts of Southeast Asia.- Programming :Disney Channel Asia airs a variety of shows, aimed particularly at children and teenagers. Most of the programming is similar to the American counterpart with some shows exclusive to the Asian... |
Kids and Teens Entertainment Channel |
| 835 | Golf Channel HD The Golf Channel Golf Channel, known as The Golf Channel before the July 2008 dropping of The, is an American cable television network with coverage focused on the game of golf. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, the American headquarters and studio are currently located in Orlando, Florida... |
International golf channel |
See also
- Astro All Asia Networks
- Astro MAXAstro MAXAstro MAX was a personal video recorder service for Astro launched in July 2006. It marked the first PVR system ever to be introduced in Malaysia, though LG's PVR-integrated Time Machine TV introduced later that year...
- Astro (satellite TV)
- High-definition televisionHigh-definition televisionHigh-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
- High-definition television in Malaysia