Malaysian platform Astro looks like it ran its new piracy report through its drama scripting department, checking the boxes on heroes and villains, high-stakes, dire consequences, courage, cowardice and moral boundaries...

Sounding the usual alarms about piracy – lost revenue, lost opportunities, lost jobs – Astro ramped up the drama, talking about “lost futures for those who create the content audiences love”. 

The tear-in-its-eye opening was followed by a series of victories against evil, led by action that clawed back value totalling exactly RM808,927 and 20 sen, which is exactly US$180,961 and 8 cents at an exchange rate of 4.47041 Malaysian ringgit to the dollar. 

The amount was reached through a combo of fines, settlements and prosecution of sellers of illegal streaming devices (ISD), as well as legitimate subscription gains.

Recent action included 10 civil cases against commercial enterprises, and criminal and civil cases ISD sellers. 

Astro describes its battle against piracy and its efforts to document activities bi-annually as “a story of progress, perseverance, and purpose”.

Inviting readers to explore the full report to “discover how it is setting new benchmarks in protecting creativity”, Astro said it was “not slowing down. These early victories in FY25 are just the beginning of a longer journey – one where the stakes are high, but the rewards are worth it”.

“We invite you to stand with us in this fight,” said group CEO, Euan Smith. “Together we can shape a future where great stories are valued, celebrated and protected”. 

And then there was the simultaneously released earnings report, which highlighted the ongoing impact of conflict in the Middle East on advertising revenues, where dropped 19.5% to RM70 million/US$15.6 million for the quarter to end September compared to the same quarter last year. 

Astro’s revenue for the quarter dropped to RM787 million/US$176 million compared to RM837 million/US$187 million in the same quarter last year. For the first half, revenue dropped 8% to RM1,560 million/US$349 million. 

A content and engagement highlight were the theatrical releases through Astro Shaw, which year to date have captured 74% cinema market share in Malaysia. Astro Shaw backed the top three domestic titles – Sheriff, The Experts and Takluk Lahad Datu, which grossed a combined RM100 million/US$22.4 million for the period.

Astro said 79% of its watch time was on vernacular content, and name checked original drama series, Dedaun Hijau Di Angin Lalu (1.4 million peak rating/6.1 million TV viewers/179,000 on-demand viewers) and Takdir Itu Milik Aku (1.1m peak rating/7.2 million TV viewers, 239,000 on-demand viewers), which it said were among Malaysia’s top dramas of 2024. 

Adapted from Manaf Hamzah’s novel, Dedaun Hijau Di Angin Lalu stars Harissa Adlynn Halim as Intan, whose birth is shrouded in mystery and who faces hardships and prejudice with determination and perseverance.

The 20-episode Takdir Itu Milik Aku is about a woman tricked into marrying a man and bearing his child in order for him to strengthen his grip on the family’s fortune.

At streaming platform sooka,  monthly active users are up 60% to one million year on year and the VIP base is up120%. Astro First Pay Per View launched on sooka at RM19.50 covering select titles.