10 September, 2007: Astro Indonesia and Al Jazeera English, the English language news and current affairs channel, part of the Al Jazeera Network, today announce a significant partnership following the completion of a carriage deal. Astro has started carrying Al Jazeera English on its DTH platform on channel 39 in Indonesia.
The deal forms part of the basic content package which makes the channel available alongside other international news channels.
"Al Jazeera English has unrivalled expertise in covering the Middle East and under reported countries around the world, and I am thrilled that Astro viewers can now tune into the Channel for a different perspective on the news," said Nelia M. Sutrisno, Chief Executive Officer, Astro.
Phil Lawrie, Director, Global Distribution at Al Jazeera English said "We highly value our pre-existing relationship with Astro, which has been carrying Al Jazeera English in Malaysia since the channel's launch in November 2006, and are delighted that Astro Indonesia is now carrying Al Jazeera English."
Al Jazeera English, the 24-hour English-language news and current affairs channel, headquartered in Doha broadcasts to more than 100 million households worldwide. Al Jazeera English is the first global news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. The channel of reference for the Middle East, Al Jazeera English reverses the information flow from South to North.
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About Astro
Astro pay tv started its operations in Indonesia on February 28, 2006 by presenting 48 channels consisting of the Citta, Arena, Sinema, and Dinasti packages. The Citta package constitutes the basic subscription package consisting of channels for children, science, news, entertainment, music, film and terrestrial TV. These packages include 5 (five) channels produced by Astro namely Astro Ceria ((special channel for children's programmes), Astro Aruna (special channel for Indonesian television soap opera with women segment), Astro Kirana (special channel for non-Hollywood film lovers), Astro Xpresi (channel for Indonesian youth lifestyle and infotainment, information and entertainment), and Astro Awani (special channel for information and lifestyle). Three of these five channels, i.e. Astro Ceria, Astro Kirana, and Astro Aruna, have been broadcasted in Malaysia and Brunei since September 1, 2006. These five self-package-channels make Astro different from other pay TV operators.
Besides these local channels, Astro also broadcasts international channels with programs specially prepared for Astro, such as Astro Super Sport, Astro TVIQ, Zee TV, Wa TV, Shuang Xing, and Wah Lai Toi. Some channels have been dubbed or translated into Indonesian.
At present, Astro channels are broadcasted to subscribers through the Measat-2 satellite using digitally compressed technology MPEG-2 with broadcasting coverage on the regions of Sumatera, Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara. All channels are up-linked to Measat-2 from Jakarta, Indonesia. On December 12, 2006, Measat-3 satellite was launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and will start operation in mid-2007. In line with the use of the Measat-3 satellite, the broadcasting coverage becomes wider to include some areas in Indonesia particularly Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Measat-3 satellite uses digitally compressed technology MPEG-4, which will increase the total number of channel in availability Astro to increase 2 or 3 times the currently existing number of channels.
Using the MPEG-4 technology, Astro present prime quality of pictures and will enhance sound quality to become dolby-surround.
PT Direct Vision
PT Direct Vision is the operator of Astro pay TV. It has been granted the license to operate subscription television services, and has obtained the Landing Right to use the facilities of Measat-2.
Shareholders of PT Direct Vision are Silver Concord Holdings Limited and PT Ayunda Prima Mitra; two business entities belonging to Lippo Group. PT Direct Vision has obtained the permit from the Foreign Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) to carry out share restructuring and to allow foreign ownership by Astro amounting to 20%. The new structure of shareholders is currently being finalized by both parties, Astro and Lippo Group.
PT Direct Vision has a strong commitment to investment in the pay TV business, in order to boost the development and growth of the industry in Indonesia. It is expected that this investment will be an important contribution to create a knowledge-based industry and will either directly or indirectly open more job opportunities.
About Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera English is the world's first English language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. Broadcasting from within the Middle East, looking outwards, Al Jazeera English sets the news agenda and acts as a bridge between cultures. With unique access as the channel of reference for Middle East events, and broadcast centres strategically placed around the world in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, Al Jazeera English balances the information flow from South to North, providing accurate, impartial and objective news for a global audience from a grass roots level, giving voice to different perspectives from under-reported regions around the world.
Al Jazeera English is building on the ground-breaking heritage of its sister Arab-language channel - Al Jazeera, which was responsible for changing the face of news within the Middle East, now extending that fresh perspective from regional to global.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON AL JAZEERA ENGLISH PLEASE CONTACT THE PRESS OFFICE ON:
Lana Khachan
Email: press.int@aljazeera.net
Tel: +974 489 23201
For further information, please contact:
Baby Shahputri
Vice President Publicity & Promotion
PT. Direct Vision
Tel. 021 - 30060000 ext 7252
Fax. 021 - 30060048
Hp. 0855 1000143
Email:baby_shahputri@astro.co.id
© Press Release 2007
