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THE economic downturn has benefited at least one organisation.
With some quarters not getting year-end bonuses and others facing pay- cuts, spending power has been reduced to a certain extent.
But for satellite broadcast TV operator Astro (All Asia Television and Radio Company), this means more people are resorting to home entertainment.
There was an increase in its subscribers to more than 150,000 at the end of last year, which was made possible by its first anniversary offer of RM799 for its DtU (direct-to-you or digital transmission unit) set.
Billy Wong, head of Astro's Chinese language programming (Wah Lai Toi and Asian Entertainment Channels), said: "The economic downturn has been a blessing in disguise for us as more people are cutting expenses by staying at home and watching TV."
He was speaking to reporters at a Chinese New Year dinner following the preview of a two-hour-long Chinese movie, The Journey To Xia Empire, which will be shown on AEC at 7pm on the first day of Chinese New Year. Also at the event was Y.K. Chin, executive director of Astro.
Wong...