Pirated DVD peddlers cashing in on Astro First movies

KUCHING: Local filmakers may be enjoying a booming time with their movies raking in millions of ringgit in box office receipts but the pirated DVD and VCD peddlers are making more, thanks to Astro First provided by pay-television operator Astro.

Astro First was launched on Jan 13 this year, promising Astro clients the latest movies within two weeks after the cinema releases.

But the move has backfired with many local movies aired over Astro First being recorded and sold as VCDs and DVDs in the open market here.

A random check by Bernama revealed that among the latest local movies being aired over Astro First and in local cineplexes here but already available in VCD or DVD format are "Kongsi" and "Seru."

These are being sold as low as RM5 or RM6 each, depending on the bargaining power of the buyers as well as "attractive packages" offered by the peddlers to the potential buyers.

Among the packages offered is the purchase of the DVDs at RM5 each if buyers take more than three pirated DVDs, be they local or English movies. Asked if the local movies, aired by Astro First and immediately sold in DVD format, were pirated or not, the peddlers said these were value for money because the audio and visual quality were good and the movies were still being shown at the cineplexes.

Touted as the first of its kind movie-on-demand service, Astro First made its debut on Channel 480, charging RM15 per movie, which is inexpensive compared to paying up to RM80 for a family at a cineplex here.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry's Sarawak director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman told Bernama that selling of such DVDs infringed the Copyright Act 1987.

He said although the ministry had the power to act against the offenders.

"It is up to the film producers, distributors and Astro to take the necessary action, and it is better for them to lodge an official report with details to us so that we can make seizures or arrests," he said.