Astro Boosts Sports Slate

KUALA LUMPUR: For its coverage of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi, Malaysian pay-TV operator Astro is rolling out seven new channels, including one in HD.

The channels begin broadcasting tomorrow and will run Commonwealth Games coverage through October 17. Subscribers can also access coverage on the Astro Arena channel, which is also host broadcaster for the sport of badminton at the Games. “This is a great honour for Astro and Arena and a big responsibility for our colleagues who are involved," said Lee Choong Kay, head of the sports business at Astro. "I have complete faith that [our local production team] will perform at a level that will make us all proud, but once the Games are over it’s just as important that they bring home all the experiences and lessons learned working alongside some of the world’s best and pass on those standards and practices."

The platform also recently bolstered in entertainment and lifestyle slate with the additions of ONE HD, STAR Movies HD and Lifestyle Channel, airing programs from both Food Network Asia HD and Life Inspired (LI). Astro now operates 12 HD channels.