The government is maintaining the exclusive right for satellite broadcast for Measat Broadcast Network Systems (Malaysia)Sdn Bhd up to Feb 28, 2017, said the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

It said in a written reply circulated in the Dewan Rakyat that the right was maintained for the Astro operator based on the 'no worse off' principle during the migration from the Broadcast Licence to the Content Applications Service Provider Individual Licence.

"This exclusive right was granted by the Government of Malaysia to MBNS in 1997 before the migration of MBNS from the Broadcast Licence under the Broadcasting Act 1988 to the new regime under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

"MBNS can continue with the pay-TV broadcasting service via satellite to the general public after 2017, but not exclusively," the ministry said in reply to a question from Hasan Arifin (BN-Rompin) who had wanted to know whether the government would continue with the exclusive rights for Astro which would expire next year.

In addition, the ministry said other companies could begin to apply to purchase pay-TV broadcasting services via satellite after Feb 28, 2017.

- Bernama