Malaysia’s Astro has created a new home for its full catalogue of premium originals, rolling out the Astro Premier channel (linear/on-demand) for all domestic customers at no additional charge until the beginning of February 2024.

The service kicks off with Astro original, "Riot!", which follows four university students exposing the sexual misconducts of a respected professor. 

Describing itself as Malaysia’s leading digital streaming and content company, Astro says the new service will be a “destination for all premium content locally and regionally”.

Astro originals headed for the fledgling premium service include "Gamers Mangkuk", about five underdog gamers eyeing an opportunity to play with a professional team by winning a competition organised by a famed e-sports athlete; and Headliners, about a part-time journalist, Lia, who discovers her late mother’s polaroid camera that prints pictures of future tragedies. 

The other two new titles are "ID", which delves into the challenges of falling in love when everything is fake; and "X-Change", about a son forced to take over his family business – robbing gold stores – after his father’s demise. 

Astro Premiere has acquired seven titles from regional streamer Viu. 

The Viu titles are dark fantasy hit "Nenek Bongkok Tiga", the Tagalog adaptation of "Flower of Evil", the Indonesian adaptations of popular titles "Pretty Little Liars" and "Bad Boys vs Crazy Girls", and "Alter-Naratif", "Return Man" and "Devoted".

Astro’s original library titles include "Projek: Anchor SPM", "Kudeta" and "Histeria", along with Chinese Astro originals, including "The Patient" and "Lost & Found", and Indian series, Vinmeen exclusive "Kalvanai Kandu Pidi".

The new channel launch came on the eve of Astro’s latest results announcement today (Monday, 25 September), during which group CEO, Euan Smith, highlighted the take up of TV packs as well as the theatrical performance of "Polis Evo 3", which at RM54 million/US$12 million, beat Hollywood blockbusters with an additional RM1.7 million/US$362,853 to date on the Astro First pay per view service. 

“As we pivot to be a digital, streaming company, Astro’s TV packs, which can be bundled with our own internet service, Astro Fibre, continue to see good take-up,” he said, adding that Astro’s originals and fresh content remained a “key differentiator”. 

Astro’s broadband base grew 27% for the quarter to end August for the quarter to end August (Astro’s financial year runs to end January).