By Clara Chooi
SIBU, Feb 18 — Viewers nationwide can now enjoy Astro’s “Njoi” services, Malaysia’s first subscription-free television service that offers access to 37 TV and radio channels.
The TV service, which was launched in December 2010, has now entered phase two of implementation, allowing viewers access to its channels at a one-time payment of RM388 — RM288 for a set-top box, Out Door Unit (ODU) satellite dish, smartcard and remote control unit, and RM100 for installation.
Among the channels included in Njoi are Astro Tutor TV UPSR, PMR and SPM as well as entertainment and information channels like Astro Prima, Astro Oasis, Astro Awani, Astro AEC, Astro Vaanavil, Jia Yu, Makkal TV, CCTV4, Bernama TV, iView, iMus, TVi, TV1, TV2, Astro Xiao Tai Yang and 19 radio stations.
“Later, customers can look forward to buying additional content at their own discretion, from a menu of attractive content through a prepaid mechanism, which will be available by the middle of 2012,” Astro said in a statement, referring to phase three of Njoi’s service.
According to previous media reports, under Njoi’s first phase in 2010, Astro had distributed some 50,000 Njoi decoders and satellite dishes to recipients under the eKasih programme.
During the service’s nationwide launch here today, Information, Communications and Culture Deputy Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said Njoi would create an abundance of choices in free and paid TV content for all Malaysians.
“This ultimately adds value for Malaysian viewers while at the same time will drive the growth of local talent as well as the ideation and aggregation of local content,” he said.
Also present were ministry deputy secretary-general Che Azemi Haron and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi.