It is most disappointing that Measat Broadcast Network Systems has ignored questions raised about the legality of the ASTRO (Asian Satellite Television and Radio Services) satellite broadcasting services and declared its plans to collect the monthly subscription fees of RM80 from next month. (Star 19.10.96)
This is not a responsible corporate conduct on the part of Measat Broadcast Network Systems. The Malaysian public do not have to pay RM80 monthly subscription for ASTRO services until Measat Broadcasting Networks Systems can establish that it has a legal case to collect the subscriptions.
The Minister for Information, Datuk Mohamed Rahmat told reporters in Parliament lobby on Monday after tabling the Broadcasting Amendment Bill that Astro’s services will only be introduced in January and that its satellite broadcast transmissions are only “for promotions and testing only”.
The Information Minister has given a second reason, apart from the issue of legality of satellite broadcasting before the Broadcasting Amendment Bill becomes law, why ASTRO cannot collect monthly subscription fees from next month onwards - as how could ASTRO charge the public for transmissions meant for “promotions and testing only”?
In fact, it is ASTRO which should be paying the public for helping it in monitoring its transmissions during the period of “promotions and testing”, and not the other way round!
Today, ASTRO carried a two full-page advertisement on “A World of entertainment & information Direct-to-U”, outlining the details of the “more than 30 of the best television and radio channels that Malaysia, Asia and the world can offer”, but a close look at the advertisements confirm that there is at present minimal local content.
ASTRO should hold an urgent meeting to reconsider and revise its whole satellite broadcasting strategy, to ensure that when ASTRO services are officially launched early next year, there would be a respectable percentage of local content reflecting the multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious characteristics of Malaysia, so that Malaysians can be proud of a Malaysian satellite broadcasting station which exists not only in name but even more important in terms of content!
I am prepared to meet with the officials of Measat Broadcast Network Systems to discuss the two important questions of legality and content of ASTRO services, and I am asking my office to set up such a meeting.
(19/10/96)