Astro’s NJOI sees higher viewership growth

KUALA LUMPUR: Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s subscription-free satellite TV service NJOI is expected to see positive viewership growth this year following the launch of additional channels via its latest prepaid offerings.

Astro launched NJOI last year, giving viewers access to 19 TV and 20 radio channels with a one-time payment.

While Astro is a pay TV service with a monthly payment basis, NJOI is subscription-free with budgeted programmes for which subscribers make a one-time payment of RM308 plus an installation fee of RM100.

NJOI vice-president of business segment Shaiful Subhan said the service has attracted 209,000 customers since the commercial launch.

“Our customer numbers are still growing, and we believe with additional channels and with the latest prepaid offerings, the subscriber base will grow,” he told a media briefing here yesterday.

Both existing and new customers can now choose additional programmes on a per channel basis (a la carte) with the new prepaid credit of RM5, RM10 or RM20.

“Upon successfully topping up their credit, they can proceed to purchase any of the channels that they wish to watch based on the available channels made on the prepaid,” he said.

Shaiful said satellite TV customers could previously only choose from prepaid packs offering several channels packaged together.

“Now we are offering individual channels to NJOI customers to meet their needs, preferences and budgets.”

The programmes cost RM2-RM15 for a duration of two days to one month. — Bernama