Astro Ria
| Astro Ria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched |
1 June 1996 (SD) (Malaysia) 29 May 2015 (HD) (Malaysia) |
| Owned by | Astro Holdings Sdn Bhd |
| Picture format | 576i (SD and HD 16:9) |
| Country |
Malaysia Singapore |
| Language | Malay |
| Broadcast area |
Malaysia Singapore |
| Website | Astro Gempak |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Astro (Malaysia) |
Channel 104 (SD) Channel 123 (HD) |
| Astro NJOI (Malaysia) | Channel 104 (SD) (via NJOI Prepaid) |
| IPTV | |
| Singtel TV (Singapore) | Channel 608 (SD) |
Astro Ria is a Malaysian 24-hour television network broadcast on the Astro satellite television service. It was one of the first 22 channels to commence broadcast on Astro in 1996.
Programs on the network include Malay dramas, films and reality shows.
In 2003, Astro Ria was the first Malaysian channel to have a talent show which is based on the Mexican television show La Academia, called Akademi Fantasia. The contest pits 12 singers in a bid to become the winner. The show became so popular in Malaysia and Brunei that spin-off versions were made in Indonesia and Thailand. A second season was made, which enabled Brunei viewers to vote as well. In its third season, 14 contestants instead of the original 12 were competing for the competition and the winner, Mawi became an instant music celebrity. A fourth season commenced in May 2006.
In May 2002, Astro Ria launched Bloomberg RIA News, which was essentially the Malay language version of Bloomberg News Malaysia. The news was aired at 10:45pm, for fifteen minutes on weekdays. Its first anchor was Amir Mahmood Razak, who eventually also presented for the English version. The show was produced by Amy Mahadi.
Bloomberg TV and Astro's co-operation was dissolved in 2004, and the news programming became known as Berita Astro. Berita Astro ceased production at the end of January 2007 and later launched a new news division, in which Astro Awani was launched September 2007. Awani's main news programme Awani 7:45 is also simulcasted on this channel everyday at 19:45 MST.
Astro Ria is currently available for free-to-view on Astro customers and paid-pre-view on NJOI customers in Malaysia on Channel 104 in SD/Channel 123 in HD (Astro customers only, available for Basic HD Pack only)
Astro Ria HD is the simulcast HD version of Astro Ria. It was launched on 29 May 2015 for all Astro customers that subscribed to HD service on channel 123. Selected programmes on Astro Mustika HD and Astro Maya HD are no longer showing with SD version of Astro Ria, such as The Band, Akademi Fantasia, etc.
