My opinion of launching "Chinese version" of Astro Awani

Astro is a direct home satellite pay TV in Malaysia. It is content applications service provider by offering variety of channels from local and international for everyone.

Other than offering international channels, Astro does have its branded channels in Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Astro-branded English channels are sports, known as Astro Supersport, meanwhile Astro does not have any in-house English channels like AEC, Ria, Vannavil as most of English speaking people will watch imported international channels such as AXN, Discovery, FOX etc.

Now I'm going to talk regarding Astro Chinese in-house channels. As 2019, Astro does have 8 Chinese in-house channels (regardless Mandarin, Cantonese or Hokkien), such as:

1. Astro AEC (Mandarin general entertainment channel)

2. Astro Wah Lai Toi 華麗台 (Cantonese general entertainment channel)

3. Astro Hua Hee Dai 歡喜台 (Hokkien general entertainment channel)

4. Astro Shuang Xing 雙星 (Chinese drama channel)

5. Astro Quan Jia 全佳 HD (Exclusive programs from Mainland China)

6. Astro Xiao Tai Yang 小太陽 (Chinese kids channel)

7. Astro AOD (Exclusive and latest  TVB dramas from Hong Kong)

8. Astro Xi Yue HD 喜悅 (First free Chinese HD channel for Astro and NJOI users, a best of best variety shows channel. Astro Xi Yue somehow reruns older programs from Wah Lai Toi, Shuang Xing and Hua Hee Dai)

Among all 8 Astro-branded Chinese channels, most of them are entertainment based channels (dramas, comedy, game show, variety show, movie, cartoons, education), but Astro Chinese segment is lack of something serious channel. In my opinion, I feel certain Astro-branded Chinese channels are a bit slapstick, so in my opinion, Astro shall consider to launch Chinese version of Astro Awani.

Let's look at Astro Malay segment, Astro does have "something serious" channel, it is news channel, known as Astro Awani.

Astro Awani is Malay news and current affairs channel, later Awani does have English programmes later, become bilingual channel. As 2019, Astro Awani does not only cover news and current affairs, it also covers documentary, politic analysis, business, magazine, entrepreneur and talk programmes.

As Chinese is second largest ethnics in Malaysia, then there is growing of Malaysia Chinese business talk radio station City Plus FM where hit the airwaves since May 2017, my suggestion to launch Chinese version of Astro Awani is to target Malaysian-Chinese PMEBs, SMEs and serious viewers. 

PMEB stands for Professionals, Managers, Entrepreneurs, and Businessmen/Businesswomen, meanwhile SME stands for Small Medium Enterprise.

Despite Astro does have Chinese news channels, but they're imported channel such as Phoenix News Channel broadcasts from Hong Kong, actually Astro needs local in-house news and current affairs channel in Chinese.

Regarding the proposal of "Chinese version" of Astro Awani, the suggested channel does not only cover news, current affairs and political analysis in Mandarin Chinese, in order to make the channel more variety for Chinese PMEBs, and SMEs, this "Chinese version" of Astro Awani can feature documentaries, business, money financial, entrepreneurship, and technology talk, also automotive discussion. In addition, Chinese version of Awani can have Chinese business entrepreneur reality show in Chinese Mandarin like something Alliance Bank BizSmart Challenge.

Besides news and current affairs, some of talk shows related to business, money financial and others can be either in Mandarin Chinese or Cantonese, depends on the producers' choice.

Chinese version Awani= News, current affairs and business TV channel in Chinese language.

In conclusion, I think it may be better if there is Astro-branded news, current affairs and business channel in Chinese language like Awani because this can provide more choice for Malaysia-Chinese viewers. When certain of them need news and something serious, rather than slapstick and crappy entertainment stuff, so they can watch Chinese Awani instead. For the channel name, I have no idea of this Chinese Awani channel. In addition, I have no idea of channel numbering suggestion for Chinese Awani.

For the package, Chinese version of Astro Awani shall be free channel for Astro and NJOI users, HD simulcast is encouraged.

==Suggested programs on "Chinese version" Astro Awani==

* Mandarin news 

* Current affairs

* Political analysis

* Documentaries (can feature international feed from CCTV or Taiwan TV documentaries)

* Money financial topics (including financial tips)

* Business talk

* Interview of Malaysian-Chinese CEO, PMEBs, ministers and politicians 

* Business reality show

* Technology talk
* Feminist talk

* Automotive talk (car review, test drive and automotive tips)

* LIVE broadcast of special events (such as elections, and bigger issue)
* Sports talk (football)