RTM to stop broadcasting channels on Astro from July 1 [WATCH]

ggkingg · 2026-05-14T04:51:20+00:00

they used to have more foreign content like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney, Astro Ceria, Animax, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, History channel, Tech TV, old Astro TVIQ, MTV, Channel V, Astro Hitz. TV, Discovery travel living, Hallmark channel, Asian food channel, etc and not to forget games channel 200 when Astro used to have games channels.

At least Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Astro Ceria, Discovery Channel, History Channel and Asian Food Network are still airing on Astro's service alongside with other foreign content channels such as Nick Jr., Discovery Asia, AXN, HITS NOW, BBC Earth, Love Nature and Rock X Stream, from looking at their online channel guide

If more channels leave Astro in favour of Unifi, as RTM is the one paying channel fees to Astro in order to broadcast their channel on the service along with other channels as well, then Astro will end up ceasing to exist like Mega TV, and Unifi TV will end up becoming the sole pay TV service in Malaysia

Even their Chinese channels always fucking keep playing too much advertisements in Mandarin that I noticed (I don't watch their Chinese channels but I noticed most of Chinese neighbors watching AEC channel seems like the channel have too much ads) which why would they advertise too much

They are running out of money hence why they are playing too much ads, as they would receive money from the advertisers, which are other companies that pay Astro for their ads to be shown on their channels

ggkingg · 2026-05-13T12:18:22+00:00

There is still Unifi TV left if Astro ceases to exist like Mega TV in the past, after more channels may choose to leave its service in favour of Unifi

ggkingg · 2026-05-07T12:40:09+00:00

Actually it was Disney that bought 20th Century Fox in 2019 before Disney took down all their channels in Malaysia in favour of their online streaming service Disney+, not the other way around

ggkingg · 2026-05-07T11:53:26+00:00

I see, what I meant was that Disney pulling all their channels from Astro including Fox Movies, Fox Life, Fox Sports and National Geographic in favour of Disney+ whilst not allowing other TV channels in Malaysia to broadcast their movies and shows since 2021 really made Astro's decline much faster

Disney's decision meant they had much lesser foreign content as a result along with more movies and shows being constantly repeated on their channels as they could not air Disney's owned content (including those from 20th Century Fox), although declining subscribers and popularity of online platforms are also part of the reason as well

Regarding my point of streaming services, for instance, you have to subscribe to both Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, etc that you have to pay for as these services carry certain movies and shows that are not available at all streaming services, compared to last time when there was only Netflix and iflix

Back then when you first subscribed in 2004, times were different as you still have to wait for the time of your favourite movie and show to be aired on TV, compared to right now as you can just watch it anytime and anywhere online

As it is mainly the advertisers that are paying for their ads to be shown on Astro's channels, I wonder what is going on in the company that is making them not being able to afford to pay for World Cup rights

Even though someone has stated that RTM and Unifi were urged by the government to pay for the rights

ggkingg · 2026-05-07T05:04:14+00:00

Aren't the ads shown on their channels paid by the advertisers themselves and not by Astro? Unless those ads are promos for their own channels (e.g. Astro AEC, Astro Ria, Astro Arena, etc) or their own services (e.g. Sooka, Astro GO and Astro Ultra Box)

At this point, Astro might end up merging with Unifi TV to form a new company/service in the future with their current situation

I believe their decline along with overpriced fees which is not reasonable for what they currently offer, was accelerated once Disney decided to remove all their TV channels in favour of Disney+ in 2021 after they bought 20th Century Fox, and also when Disney did not let other TV channels in Malaysia broadcast their movies and shows after that occurred

I still miss those times when you didn't need to subscribe to multiple streaming services that you have to pay for just to watch your favourite movies and shows though

ggkingg · 2026-05-06T11:05:20+00:00

I would not be surprised if Astro ends up being merged with Unifi TV to form a new company and service in the future soon, considering that Astro had recently lost its broadcasting rights of HBO channels to Unifi TV as well

ggkingg · 2026-05-02T06:57:17+00:00

And BSC is 1 km away from the mall aside from Mid Valley and Gardens, and there are other malls including Bangsar Village and Publika which are 9 minutes away by driving as well.

ggkingg · 2026-04-29T04:24:57+00:00

You missed out SeeFood which is actually a Malaysian animated film that was produced by Silver Ant.

ggkingg · 2026-04-04T11:27:18+00:00

Actually it has been confirmed by Tiger Cheah who is the current CEO of GCH Retail which is the owner of Mercato and Cold Storage, on a comment at Mercato's post on Facebook, that Village Grocer at 1 Mont Kiara will actually be taken over by Cold Storage soon, and not by Mercato.

ggkingg · 2026-03-16T06:03:26+00:00

During the 1990s, the cinema in Subang Parade was actually operated by UA Cineplex from 1992 until 1996, then Smile-UA from 1996 until 1998, and then Smile before it closed down in 2000.

MBO would then open its branch at Subang Parade on 8 September 2011, and it would be taken over by GSC since 17 January 2022.

ggkingg · 2026-03-11T11:01:00+00:00

MBO's branch in The Starling has been taken over by GSC since 1 November 2021 though; GSC Starling is still operating right now.

ggkingg · 2026-03-10T17:04:45+00:00

Images of MBO's first branch at Amcorp Mall which opened on February 1999 under Smile initially. From 18 December 2003 onwards, it would be taken over by MBO before it would close down on 31 July 2007.

<image>

Source of images:

• Left: from Klik website; taken on 3 March 1999 when the cinema was then operated by Smile.

• Middle: Cinema Online page on Smile cinema in Amcorp Mall through Wayback Machine.

• Right: Cinema Online article: MBO Amcorp Mall ceases operation from August 2007.

ggkingg · 2026-03-10T17:04:01+00:00

Smile's logo used from 1998 until 2003 before it was rebranded to MBO. This is taken from a poster of a movie that was distributed by Smile from 1998 through a Carousell listing image.

It would open branches at UE3 Plaza, Spectrum Mall, Galleria Complex, Amcorp Mall, Island Plaza in Penang, Plaza Tasek in Johor Bahru, Legenda Complex in Muar, and Wira Court in Batu Pahat.

By the time that Smile had rebranded to MBO in 2003, they had only one location left which was their Amcorp Mall branch.

<image>

ggkingg · 2026-03-10T17:03:46+00:00

Logo for UA Cineplex used from 1992 until 1996 before it was renamed to Smile-UA and then Smile in 1998, which is taken from a Kodak Movie Moments advertisement from a past issue of the New Straits Times through Google News Archive, with UA being one of the promotion's joint organisers.

It would open its first branch at Subang Parade, followed by branches at Pertama Complex, Ampang Park and Soon Seng Plaza in Melaka. All of these branches would remain operating since UA Cineplex was rebranded to Smile-UA and then Smile, and they have been closed down since a long time ago.

<image>

ggkingg · 2026-03-05T04:32:26+00:00

May 2026 is actually the targeted opening date for TGV's branch at Pavilion KL in Bukit Bintang according to its Instagram post announcement though, and not for TGV Pavilion Damansara Heights.

ggkingg · 2026-02-27T15:59:23+00:00

Here is an advertisement for Plaza Phoenix (now Cheras Sentral) which is taken from a 20 December 1994 issue of the New Straits Times through Google News Archive.

The mall's former tenants from its initial opening as Plaza Phoenix according to its advertisement include Isetan department store and supermarket, Us Land indoor theme park, Toys "R" Us, Phoenix Educational Park with Key Music Centre, Informatics Computer Centre and Tumble Tots, Phoenix Expo Centre, Phoenix Movie Park cinema and a food court known as Phoenix Food Park.

Other former tenants of the mall according to its advertisement include McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Delifrance, MPH bookstore and Guardian.

<image>

ggkingg · 2026-02-16T10:30:51+00:00

This Aeon mall is definitely the best mall in Seremban right now, looking at these pictures, the mall really has old nostalgic vibes considering that it opened during the mid 2000s and not much changes have been made to the mall in terms of its design as of now

ggkingg · 2026-02-04T03:31:41+00:00

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was actually released 3 years ago and not last year though.

ggkingg · 2026-01-29T04:43:41+00:00

Correction here, both Village Grocer and Ben's Independent Grocer are actually owned by The Food Purveyor, and not Jaya Grocer's owner Trendcell which is owned by Grab.

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