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KUALA LUMPUR: Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad entered the new financial year on a steady footing, with Pay-TV gross customer additions climbing 17% YoY in the first quarter of FY26 (Q1FY26), driven by the strong take-up of Astro One packs as Malaysians seek greater value from their entertainment choices.
Marking a promising start, the growth was fuelled by the rising popularity of the simplified Pay-TV packs that bring together the best of local and global content, and (with the recent addition of Amazon Prime & Sun NXT) now include up to 16 streaming apps all in one place.
In addition, in line with Astro’s commitment to serve diverse Malaysian households, last month we introduced a special offer exclusively tailored for the 1.6 million civil servants in the country, to showcase our appreciation for their vital role they play in the nation’s progress and well-being.
The offer features discounted access to the Astro One packs and streaming via Astro GO, starting at a very affordable price tag of RM39.99/month (RRP: RM49.99).
ADJACENT BUSINESSES
While consolidating and stabilising our core business, Team Astro continues to advance the other facets of the transformation plan, each designed with a clear intent to diversify into new revenue streams beyond traditional Pay-TV.
These efforts to future-proof the business are gaining momentum, as reflected in the encouraging annual growth across the key adjacent businesses, namely sooka, Enterprise and Astro Fibre.
Our homegrown over-the-top (OTT) platform, sooka, nearly doubled its paying customers, up 97% YoY. With competitive pricing, longer-term passes, new digital payment options and a growing partnership network that now encompasses 20 top brands, the streaming app recorded monthly active user (MAU) growth of 10%.
On a similar note, Enterprise revenue grew 18% YoY, fuelled by strong demand for our BizOne commercial packs. These tailored solutions are increasingly resonating with F&B outlets, as they help businesses drive footfall, enhance customer experience, and boost brand visibility.
Last, despite an intensely competitive broadband market, Astro Fibre, our own content-and-connectivity offering, recorded 11% growth in subscriber base YoY.
The key to this performance was the strong take-up of our attractive 500Mbps offer at RM90, which has successfully set itself apart from other internet service providers by bundling high-speed access with Astro’s exclusive content proposition.
CONTENT
Q1FY26 included Ramadhan and Raya, a period when Astro’s programming traditionally resonates strongly with Malaysian audiences.
Across both celebrations, our content reached a combined total of 27.2 million TV viewers, reaffirming Astro’s role at the heart of the nation’s auspicious moments. Among the highlights, Dia Imamku stood out as Malaysia’s No.1 Entertainment Programme for the season.
Adapted from the acclaimed novel of the same title, the drama tugged at the heartstrings of our customers, drawing a huge 8.3 million TV viewers and 14.6 million streams On Demand.
Elsewhere, beyond drama, our flair for producing chart-topping melodies also struck a chord with audiences.
Rocketfuel’s upbeat Raya anthem, ‘Meriah Lain Macam’, quickly became a nationwide favourite, soaring to the top as the No.1 Most Streamed Malay Single in Malaysia within just two weeks of release (according to the Recording Industry Association of Malaysia [RIM]).
Since its debut, the catchy tune performed by our in-house rising stars Nadeera Zaini and award-winning musical hitmaker, Hael Husaini, has amassed over 19 million views on YouTube, and become the defining soundtrack of the festive season.
In the quarter, Astro also continued to drive the growth of local films by forging strategic regional partnerships, unlocking value beyond the box office, and championing storytelling that reflects the richness of Malaysia’s diverse communities.
One standout initiative is the brand collaboration tied to Keluang Man, our local superhero film currently showing in theatres. In partnership with Wonda Coffee, this creative alliance, aimed at amplifying the film’s reach and commercial impact, has seen almost 3 million cans of limited-edition coffee sold to date.
Regionally, our team-up with Night Edge Pictures marked a step forward in strengthening our presence, with co-productions of Thai horror films featuring acclaimed talents like Aokbab Chutimon (Hunger, Bad Genius), Penpak Sirikul (Home for Rent), and Ananda Everingham (Shutter, Khun Pan).
At the same time, we’re breaking new ground in storytelling with another branded film, ‘Abah Saya Uncle Mike’, produced in collaboration with Etika. The film is based on a true story of a Chinese man who lovingly raises three Malay brothers.
In the months ahead, as you’d expect from Astro, we’re set to unveil a compelling lineup of local content that spans bold new formats, beloved classics, and powerful original stories, such as, Raise The Star, Classic Golden Melody, Mandul Bukan Pilihan, and House Kanavan.
ADEX
Astro’s ADEX revenue in Q1FY26 reflected the caution seen in the broader market as tariff wars joined geopolitical and consumer spending issues on the list of concerns, declining 20% YoY primarily due to multi-nationals scaling back spending (or moving it out of Malaysia all together) in light of economic uncertainty.
The challenging environment, however, presented fresh opportunities. The company is actively pivoting toward more resilient advertiser segments, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), local brands and government support, while enhancing the cross-platform capabilities & reach that brings brands to the ecosystems.
Furthermore, there is increasing evidence globally (including 23 global studies) that prove brand recall, engagement, and attention is strongest on TV and radio vs other mediums. Astro is positioning itself as an Attention Company, being well poised to be the preferred advertising ecosystem with the right capabilities to deliver valuable attention that brands seek.
With stronger use of proprietary content IPs, smarter campaign targeting through Unified Audience Measurement (UAM), and new out-of-home (OOH) solutions in F&B hotspots, Astro as an Attention Company is evolving to meet market demands with greater agility and relevance.
FINANCIALS
Amidst a challenging economic backdrop, compounded by cautious consumer spending, Astro posted quarterly revenue of RM703 million, EBITDA of RM158 million, and PATAMI of RM13 million. In addition, the company remains cash-generative with a free cashflow of RM136 million for the quarter.
ESG
Astro’s commitment to ESG continues to shine, most recently recognised at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2025 in Singapore, last month.
A proud highlight was our win in the “Audio Description” category for our drama Dari Mata Turun Ke Hati, a romantic comedy that made history as Malaysia’s first local drama fitted with audio description specifically for the visually impaired, an innovation by Astro Studios.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Astro extended a helping hand to families facing financial hardship through its Assalamualaikum RaRa 2025 initiative. A total of 300 care packs were distributed across Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, and Kelantan to lighten the burden of low-income households during the festive season. On top of that, Astro continued its goodwill gesture to families impacted by floods across the country, donating a total of RM120,000 in cash aid.
And in the spirit of empowering the next generation, we also supported underprivileged students through our back-to-school programme, gifting over 350 school bags to children as they entered the new academic year.
GCEO’S STATEMENT – EUAN DARYL SMITH
“This quarter was a challenging one, for adex in particular, as it was shaped by economic headwinds such as rising input costs, cautious consumer spending, and uncertainty in global trade and tariffs. Yet, within that context, we’re encouraged by the signs of growth as we move further into the year.
Tough quarters test resilience, and ours lies in content. Content is at the heart of everything we do. It fuels our revenue streams and it’s what keeps Malaysians coming back for.
Our edge is local. Now, 82% of viewing time on Astro is spent on local and vernacular programming, up three percentage points from the last quarter. To meet this demand, we are continuing to produce over 10,000 hours of fresh content annually; from Astro Originals to signature dramas and beloved variety shows.
In the quarter, Dia Imamku, Seribu Tahun, and Dendam Seorang Madu topped the charts. Dia Imamku was the No.1 drama for Ramadan and Raya, watched by 8.3 million TV viewers. When we get local content right, we capture hearts and create leverage. It gives us negotiating power with content partners and enables us to stretch every ringgit that we spend on content further.
We’re also still extending well beyond the screen; into radio, digital, and on-ground experiences like concerts and festivals. These are uniquely Astro moments that cannot be pirated.
Even in a softer quarter, we’re laying the groundwork for stronger performance ahead. We remain disciplined, focused, and committed to the path we’re on – grow new customers, strengthen the adjacent businesses, and reduce legacy costs as fast as we can.”
