mio TV Adds Malay-Language Channel to Offerings

SINGAPORE, September 30: Astro
ARUNA, a new 24-hour Malay-language channel that features Indonesian dramas, is
launching in Singapore on SingTel’s mio TV on October 6.

Astro ARUNA will feature
Indonesian dramas such as Akibat Banyak Gaul, centered on a group of teens searching for their
identity; Perempuan, which
follows the life of a group of women who live and work in the city; Roman
Picisan, a love story about a
teenage girl and her driver; Mewarnai Langit, about love at first site turning into something
long-lasting; and Wah Cantiknya 2,
a 34-episode series.

“We recognize the lack of
a dedicated Malay-language channel broadcasting current drama series,” said Low
Ka Hoe, the director of mio TV and content. “We endeavor to bring the most
current content to our customers, and already offer the best and widest range
of U.S. series as well as the latest dramas from Hong Kong and Korea. Astro
ARUNA will add on the best of Indonesian content and we confident that it will
be well-received by our Malay-speaking viewers.”

Zainir Aminullah, the
executive director of Astro Entertainment, added, “At Astro Entertainment, we
understand that consumers want convenience and flexibility to watch their
favorite shows when and how they want. By partnering with a new-media pioneer
such as SingTel's mio TV, we are able to meet the on-demand needs of today’s
and tomorrow’s viewers. In addition our content development quality has
improved while efforts have accelerated over the year to meet the increasing
demands of the international audience for Malay content. The SingTel deal
affirms our content creation strategy. Our focus remains on providing fresh
Malay content and we aim to broadcast over 12,000 hours of fresh Malay content
over 3 years in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.”

—By Kristin Brzoznowski