At the Astro EURO 2020 launch event: (from left) Astro NJOI and OTT director Mazhairul Jamaludin, Astro commercial director Azlin Arshad and Astro head of sports C.K. Lee. In the background is former England international Michael Owen who made a special virtual appearance.
Football viewing can’t get any better than this
Malaysians, be prepared to sacrifice some sleep from June 12 to July 12 to watch the best football players fighting for one of the most coveted trophies in world football.
The EURO, otherwise known as the Henri Delaunay Trophy, kicks off in two months and Astro is set to tantalise footie fans with live matches.
Astro is bringing Malaysians the best viewing experience for UEFA EURO 2020 on TV and Astro GO. Best of all, you can watch the EURO like never before on the Ultra Box – with all 51 live matches in 4K UHD.
Sports Pack customers get complimentary access to EURO 2020 while eligible customers get a free upgrade to the Ultra Box for the most premium EURO viewing experience.
According to Astro commercial director Azlin Arshad, the matches can be recorded on the Ultra Box, but she believes that the passionate fans would stay up to watch the games.
“To be honest, I think Malaysians are kind of night owls. You would find people at local eateries in the wee hours before. Having endured Covid-19 over the year, people are just looking to reconnect.
“The EURO is one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. People can get together. The time difference has never been a problem.
“Also, because of the pandemic, we don’t have the luxury to go to stadiums. So the Ultra HD experience is important. You will feel the atmosphere at stadiums.”
Azlin shared that Astro Sports Pack customers deserve the best sports viewing experience, and Astro will be delighted to introduce them to the new Astro experience.
“Sports Pack customers will be entitled to an unparalleled EURO 2020 viewing experience with all 51 matches in 4K UHD on the Ultra Box.
“Also, we have curated flexible packages and a new Sports Pack that features all our sports channels, including EURO 2020, for our commercial customers.
“We are confident that live sports viewing will spur higher customer footfall to food and beverage outlets and hotels. We will hold special viewing events at our partner outlets to drive stickiness and reconnection as well as encourage legal viewing of sports.”
Astro head of sports C.K. Lee recalled the period when there was no live sports for three months when the pandemic got severe last year and called it a strange time.
“We are excited to welcome the EURO. We will be broadcasting all matches in 4K UHD for the first time in Malaysia.
“Premium live sports have always been a cornerstone of our content offering, driving viewership on TV and Astro GO, ” he said.
After a one-year wait, Astro reignited the excitement for EURO 2020 with a four-day consumer event from April 1 to 4 at Blue Atrium in Sunway Pyramid, Selangor.
After a one-year wait, Astro reignited the excitement for EURO 2020 with a four-day consumer event from April 1 to 4 at Blue Atrium in Sunway Pyramid, Selangor.
“We want fans to come and experience Astro’s innovative line-up of products, including the Ultra Box, Ulti Box, Astro GO and Astro Broadband.
“Sign up for the Astro Sports Pack at the event and stand a chance to win a 4K TV each day of the event. As part of our Goal Mania campaign, all existing and new Sports Pack customers stand to win one of the 51 4K TVs we are giving away, ” said Lee.
At the same event, during Astro’s EURO 2020 launch, former England international Michael Owen made a special virtual appearance.
The 2001 Ballon D’Or winner considers Portugal and France as the favourites, besides England.
Owen feels that the one-year delay of EURO 2020 is a blessing in disguise for the Three Lions as players who weren’t fit last year are now up to mark, while the emergence of top talents can take the England team to another level.
“Some of the big and experienced players like Harry Kane were injured at this point last year. It’s good now that they are fit, and I hope it stays that way. Not just that, we seem to have options in every position, ” he said.
“After a year riddled by the pandemic, it’s good to see a big tournament arriving, and I am hopeful that this is the year for England, ” he added.
EURO 2020 kicks off on June 12 with the opening match between Turkey and Italy (3am Malaysian time). Customers can stream the matches on Astro GO or view on the two dedicated HD channels (810 and 809) which will begin showing qualifying matches, highlights, friendly games and magazine shows from June 1, while the two UHD channels (781 and 782) for Ultra Box customers will show live games and repeats.
You can also catch the Premier League, FA Cup final, Europa League and Champions League matches in the run-up to EURO 2020. Sports Pack features 11 HD channels to cover the biggest global sporting events like La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A, and other sports including Formula 1, Moto GP, UFC, NBA, tennis, badminton and more.
