Astro launches B.yond PVR

KUALA LUMPUR: Astro has launched its B.yond PVR (Personal Video Recorder), which allows subscribers to record, pause, rewind and play television programmes broadcast by Astro.

"This service is available immediately and we expected 100,000 out of our targeted 500,00 HD (high-definition) subscribers to upgrade their service," said Astro CEO Datuk Rohana Rozhan at the launch here Tuesday.

Current Astro customers will need to pay an installation fee of RM300 for the new unit and return their old sets. New customers will have to pay RM400.

Customers who choose to upgrade to the service have two options - buy an external hard-disk drive to plug into their standard B.yond HD decoder or upgrade to B.yond PVR.

They will need to pay RM5 for the first option, and RM10 for the second option, monthly, for the recording service.

The product will replace Astro’s previous foray into personal video recording, Astro Max, which was launched to limited customers in 2006.

"There are about 26,000 Astro Max subscribers, and we are offering to swap their units with the PVR for free.

"We will also give them a one-year subscription for free," Rohana added.

Astro chief operating officer Henry Tan said currently, only one model of external hard disk was compatible with the standard B.yond box, the Western Digital My Passport AV 320GB.

He said a list of retailers selling the item can be found on Astro’s website.

Astro also launched three new HD channels, which will be available from June 16, bringing the total number its HD channels to eight.

For more information, visit www.astro.com.my/byond.