| Products | Direct broadcast satellite in high definition |
|---|---|
| Website | www.astro.com.my/byond |
Astro B.yond is the brand name of a multi-phased innovative service startiving with the first ever HDTV service launched by Malaysian pay television provider Astro on 18 December 2009.[1]
HD channels is broadcast primarily in 1080i and when required 720p resolution, and if available will also broadcast Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
The roll out of these services is estimated to cost some RM200 million, including marketing and operating costs of approximately RM150 million, over the next financial year, ahead of revenue and earnings from these services.
An additional RM20 is charged for HD services on top of existing subscriptions from April 2010. Viewers will only get HD channels for packages that they have already subscribed for. On 12 July, Astro B.yond upgraded to 3D for the final match of World Cup 2010. At both times, subscribers only need a 3D technology TV and a 3D glasses to watch in 3D.
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Astro currently uses DVB-S2 for the HD channels, and falls back to DVB-S for SD channels. Astro B.yond introduced Digital Video Recording (DVR) on 1 June 2010, and later Video on Demand (VOD) and IPTV connectivity over the period of 24 months.
The basic set top box used to deliver the service is a Pace DS-830NA.[2] It allows for recording to compatible hard disks (currently only the Western Digital MyPassport AV 320GB) attached through the USB port.
A different receiver (unknown model, but Pace DS840 being the closest match) comes with a built-in hard disk that provides 500 GB of recording capacity and other features typical of digital video recorders such as pausing and rewinding live TV, recording up to two channels at once while watching one or while watching a previously recorded program, and scheduling recordings by time or program name.
Usage of the recording feature requires an additional RM10 monthly recording fee for Astro B.yond PVR while a RM5 monthly recording fee is for recording using the Astro B.yond Box via an External Hard Disk.
| Channel | Name | Package(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 310 | Astro Zhi Zun HD | Dynasty | In-house Chinese entertainment channel |
| 393 | SET ONE HD | Preview | Asian general entertainment channel |
| 431 | HBO HD | Movies | Simulcast of HBO Asia |
| 433 | STAR Movies HD | Movies | Simulcast of Star Movies |
| 438 | Sundance Channel HD | Movies | Independently produced films and documentaries channel |
| 571 | Discovery HD World | Learning | Documentaries on science, technology and history |
| 573 | National Geographic Channel HD | Learning | Documentaries on wildlife, nature & science |
| 575 | History HD | Learning | Selected documentaries on world history and culture |
| 706 | Astro Lifestyle HD | Preview | In-house lifestyle channel which airs programmes from Food Network Asia HD food and cooking channel from 9am-9pm daily and at primetime 9pm onwards, the channel will broadcast shows from Life Inspired TV |
| 720 | AXN Beyond HD | Family | A popular English series and entertainment channel |
| 721 | AXN HD | Family | A popular English series and entertainment channel |
| 726 | FX HD | Preview | Selected English series and entertainment channel |
| 831 | Astro SuperSport HD | Sports | Live international sports channel |
| 832 | ESPN HD | Sports | Live international sports channel (Selected sport events from ESPN) |
| 833 | Astro SuperSport HD 2 | Sports | Live international sports channel 2 |
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