01 Sep 2023
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY AND UNIFI EXPAND PARTNERSHIP WITH LAUNCH OF HBO PACK & HBO GO ON UNIFI TV
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (September 1, 2023) – Warner Bros. Discovery and Unifi today announced an expansion of their partnership in Malaysia, with the launch of four HBO channels and the HBO GO streaming service.
HBO, HBO Family, HBO Hits and Cinemax will launch on Unifi TV, offering audiences access to some of the world’s best TV series and movies. All Unifi TV Pack subscribers will be able to enjoy them as a 30-day free preview from September 1.
With HGTV and Cartoon Network also added on Unifi TV in August, WBD now offers nine of its channels as well as the regional streaming service, HBO GO, which will be available in October.
Shonali Bedi, Head of Affiliate Distribution & Digital Partnerships – Southeast Asia & Hong Kong, Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “WBD’s content portfolio with Unifi is going from strength to strength. With the addition of the HBO channels on Unifi TV and HBO GO, more fans in Malaysia will be able to enjoy HBO’s unique brand of premium entertainment than ever before. HBO GO offers subscribers a chance download and stream the greatest array of storytelling for all audiences, with movies and series across genres – drama, comedy, kids, factual, lifestyle and more – anytime, anywhere.”
Anand Vijayan, Unifi’s Executive Vice President, said, “We are pleased to work with Warner Bros. Discovery once more to expand our international channel selections for all Unifi TV customers. These movie channels will be a great addition to our line-up bringing our offerings to 77 channels. Through this partnership we are strengthening Unifi TV’s international channel and streaming app offerings which already includes global streaming partners and enhancing online content and entertainment options at affordable prices for all Malaysians. To thank our loyal customers, we will offer these channels as a 30-day free preview to all Unifi TV Pack subscribers from September 1.”
HBO is one of the most respected and innovative entertainment brands in the world, known for shows like Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus – as well as many of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, including Emmy® award-winning dramas Succession and Barry.
Unifi TV customers will have access to current hit titles, including the second season of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, HBO Asia Original MarkKim + Chef, and new movie premieres on HBO in September including Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Tár and Dungeon & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. From October onwards, HBO GO will also become available to Unifi TV subscribers giving them unparalleled streaming access to DC series and movies, HBO Originals, Wizarding World, Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry and much more across multiple devices.
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TM ONE REINFORCES COMMITMENT TO ENABLING MELAKA'S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ASPIRATIONS
KUALA LUMPUR & MELAKA, 30 DECEMBER 2024 – TM One, TM’s enterprise and government sector solutions arm, has reinforced its commitment to enabling Melaka’s digital and sustainable development through various collaborations with local agencies. Working with Majlis Perbandaran Alor Gajah (MPAG) and Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB), TM One is deploying digital solutions to support the state’s economic growth, public services, and aspirations to become a model smart city. TM One also recently welcomed Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Yusoh, Melaka’s Chief Minister, to the TM Response Centre Melaka, one of three facilities that supports emergency responses across Malaysia. The Centre is staffed by over 150 personnel who manage emergency response calls 24/7, ensuring quality control, technical support, and data management. Handling over a million calls every month, the Centre serves as a critical national infrastructure that connects citizens with emergency responders, reinforcing public safety and security. Shazurawati Abd Karim, TM One’s Executive Vice President, said “The Chief Minister’s visit to TM’s Response Centre and our strategic partnerships with MPAG and SAMB underscore TM One’s expanded role in Melaka’s digitalisation journey. These essential services contribute to the state’s aspirations to enhance public safety, operational resilience, and sustainable urban growth, and are significant steps toward realising Melaka’s vision of becoming a premier smart city. This is part of TM’s aspirations to become a Digital Powerhouse, leveraging our offerings to help government agencies improve the quality of life for Melaka’s citizens.” Enhancing Urban Management In partnership with MPAG, TM One has introduced the Local Urban Observatory (LUO) Smart Solution, a data-driven platform designed to elevate urban monitoring and decision-making in Alor Gajah. This five-year collaboration integrates real-time data analytics, predictive insights, and public service tracking capabilities, enabling MPAG to monitor critical urban metrics, and gain insights on infrastructure management, public services, and environmental sustainability. Shazurawati commented, “Our LUO Smart Solution with MPAG exemplifies how AI and data analytics can drive sustainable urban planning and operational efficiencies. This collaboration empowers Alor Gajah to enhance its public service responsiveness and create a more liveable environment, aligning with Melaka’s smart city development.” Transforming Water Management To modernise Melaka’s water management services, TM One was appointed by SAMB to provide Smart Workforce Solutions. Leveraging the Open Innovation Platform (OIP) and a range of digital tools including Workflow and Job Assignment Software, the solution enables efficient task allocation and tracking for improved metering, restoration, and contractor management. Customised workforce monitoring devices further provide real-time data capture and reporting from on-site locations, improving operational visibility and safety. Additionally, high-speed mobile connectivity supports communication and coordination, ensuring swift task completion and better service quality. Shazurawati concluded, “Our partnership with SAMB highlights the transformative power of technology in essential services, improving efficiency through swift, coordinated responses to critical tasks. By digitalising workforce operations, we are enabling SAMB to improve operational resilience and elevate service standards for the people of Melaka.”
TM delivers double digit revenue, EBIT and PATAMI growth in Q2; on track to achieve its 2022 market guidance
2Q2022 Key Highlights (vs 2Q2021) Increased demand for Internet and Data translated to an 11.8% growth in Operating Revenue, at RM3.09 billion compared to RM2.76 billion Manpower and other OPEX cost optimisation contributed 81.3% EBIT growth, recorded at RM702.7 million PATAMI up 73.0% at RM378.0 million from RM218.5 million, as a result of higher operating profit and lower net finance cost Invested 15.7% of revenue in CAPEX or RM484.5 million in fibre expansion, network upgrades and support systems Free Cash Flow increased 36.4% at RM730.5 million, mainly attributed to increase in revenue and cost optimisation initiatives Interim Dividend of 9.0 sen per share declared with Dividend Reinvestment Scheme applicable (DRS) On track to achieve its 2022 market guidance, TM continues to strengthen core businesses while investing in new growth areas Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) has sustained its growth trajectory, delivering an excellent set of financial results across all key metrics for the second quarter ended 30 June 2022, offering converged services and solutions and demonstrating its resilience against increasing competition from other telco and technology players. The Group’s operating revenue grew by 11.8% to RM3.09 billion, compared to RM2.76 billion in the same quarter last year (YoY), on a foundation of strong performance across every customer segment and a sharp increase in revenue from all lines of service, particularly Internet and Data. Optimisation efforts enabled TM to record lower manpower and other OPEX costs, which led to higher Earnings Before Interest and Taxation (EBIT), up 81.3% at RM702.7 million compared to RM387.6 million YoY. Profit After Tax and Non-controlling Interest (PATAMI) was up 73.0% at RM378.0 million from RM218.5 million YoY, on the back of accelerated demand for connectivity, services and digital solutions. The Group applied the 33% Cukai Makmur statutory tax rate accordingly for the current quarter. In addition to Group-wide cost optimisation initiatives, the revenue jump helped drive an increase of Free Cash Flow by 36.4% to RM730.5 million YoY, putting TM in a solid position to make future investments and further reduce debt. TM also declared an Interim Dividend of 9.0 sen per share in line with its policy to distribute yearly dividends of 40% - 60% from its PATAMI. The DRS is applicable for this dividend tranche to provide flexibility to shareholders, enabling participation into the Group’s continuous growth momentum.unifi: Maintaining growth momentum As the leading convergence provider in Malaysia, unifi recorded a 10.3% revenue increase from RM1,272.0 million to RM1,402.6 million in the current quarter, driven primarily by continuous growth of fixed broadband subscribers, which recorded a 14.1% increase from the same quarter last year. unifi continues to innovate the home entertainment landscape, rapidly adapting to consumer consumption patterns through more attractive content that can be viewed both at home via high-speed broadband as well as on mobile devices via the playTV@unifi app. Its growing content ranges from Hollywood to Hallyu, offering variety for everyone. unifi's focus also extended to local SME businesses with the month-long #BelanjaDiSME campaign, as well as the SME Digitalisation Grant (SDG), which provides entrepreneurs with up to 50% savings for internet subscriptions and digital solutions.TM Wholesale (TMW): Leading the charge in positioning Malaysia as a digital hub TMW continues its march to be the nation’s preferred network infrastructure provider and to position Malaysia as a digital hub. Revenue for the current quarter increased by 26.4% from RM585.3 million YoY to RM739.9 million, contributed mainly by higher revenue from data and voice services. TMW’s compelling performance is underpinned by escalating domestic data demand and new deals secured on the international front. It recorded the highest installation for High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) Access in June 2022, driven by mobile network operators (MNOs) and content service provider under JENDELA. TMW also delivered more than 4,500 cumulative 4G and 5G backhaul sites in supporting the MyDIGITAL blueprint for enhanced digital inclusivity nationwide. On the international front, TMW has secured new deals with a US-based hyperscaler and a North Asian digital provider. Simultaneously, its collaborative agreement with Globe Telecom will enable its customers to enjoy superior gaming experiences, a strategic move to expand its business beyond its telco offerings.TM One: Stronger performance amidst market challenges The Group’s enterprise and public sector arm, TM One, recorded an increase in revenue of 4.1% YoY to RM854.6 million, with growth from recurring business across the enterprise and government sectors. Global supply chain challenges and delays, however, continued to impact its operations and subsequent delivery of several customer projects. As the sole local provider for the Government’s MyGovCloud initiative, TM through TM One, is the only hyperscale cloud provider to offer data residency, data locality and data sovereignty for the Malaysian Government and its citizens. This eliminates potential risks from international regulations, policy interventions, or risk of Malaysian data housed beyond Malaysia’s borders.Credence: Spearheading TM’s growth into the digital tech space Responding to the fast-growing market demand for the digitalisation of enterprises, Credence was recently launched to drive greater levels of digital capabilities and technology skills for the Group’s corporate customers. Established as a start-up, Credence is TM’s new cloud and digital services company, focusing on becoming a trusted technology partner to accelerate the digital transformation of large enterprises and the public sector. Leveraging TM’s existing technology partners and new ventures, Credence will also accelerate the Group’s transformation in the digital tech space.Commentary and Outlook from Imri Mokhtar, TM Group Chief Executive Officer “At the mid-point of 2022, our financial performance and results demonstrate TM’s ability to manage our businesses effectively despite the headwinds arising from a challenging and competitive business environment. These results are also a powerful testament of our transformation journey, and our commitment to deliver a sustainable and inclusive Digital Malaysia. “unifi will continue its trajectory to provide converged solutions to both residential and SME customers. unifi Business, specifically, will double down on its efforts to provide new propositions to engage SME customers including promotional campaigns and financing options. “TM One remains focused in enabling the digital transformation of the enterprise and public sectors. Complemented by its global partner ecosystem, TM One continues to make inroads on bespoke solutions engineered and supported by its in-house ICT capabilities. “TM Wholesale is on course to provide a comprehensive suite of advanced wholesale communication services and solutions for both domestic and global fronts. TMW is poised to position Malaysia as a digital hub for the ASEAN region. “As part of TM’s commitment to empower businesses on their digital transformational journey, the Group will also address the digital and tech skills gap through Credence. This new digital services subsidiary will deliver a differentiated advantage for enterprise digital solutions, providing greater and faster time-to-value with customised options for enterprises. “Looking ahead, 5G will level the playing field and move the industry away from network-based to service-based competition. TM welcomes the Government’s call for the industry to take up equity stakes in DNB. 5G will open up and expand the opportunities and growth areas for all of TM’s business segments – consumers, SMEs, enterprises, wholesale as well as digital services. We look forward to rolling out 5G-enabled products and solutions and unlocking value to meet customers’ demands. “As Malaysia’s convergence champion, we believe 5G will strengthen our convergence proposition, and our customers will be encouraged to transition to 5G in the near term. “Ultimately, TM’s growth and differentiation, whether in 5G, fixed broadband or digitalisation, will hinge on creating and offering exceptional customer experience, as we continue on our evolution towards becoming a human-centred technology company.”
unifi business’ entertainment solutions empowers hospitality industry for stronger rebound
Providing best-in-class content to support hoteliers return to normalcy unifi Business, the preferred digital partner for close to 400,000 SMEs in Malaysia, have signed an agreement to provide innovative hospitality entertainment solutions to five high-value business customers namely, the Genesis Life Care Centre, Aturan Lagenda-Ideas Hotel, Capitol Hotel, Federal Hotel and Corus Hotel. The agreement provides these businesses access to premium and exclusive content from unifi Business through unifi TV’s hospitality entertainment solutions. Customers will be able to choose from three attractive packs to mix and match over 50 channels in genres ranging from live sports, drama series, blockbuster movies, global news, kids/edutainment, lifestyle and many more. Mohamad Yusman Ammeran, unifi’s Head of SME Segment shared, “Foreign tourist arrivals reportedly dipped from about 26 million in 2019 to only about 135,000 in 2021 – hitting Malaysia’s tourism industry harder than most other sectors. “As of June 2022, however, tourist numbers have exceeded 1 million and are expected to rise to 4.5 million by the end of the year. Hoteliers are revitalising their businesses and striving to provide more rewarding, comprehensive experiences in their effort to attract more customers.” He added, “To support the hospitality industry’s effort to create greater value for their customers, unifi is excited to offer these local businesses our new hospitality entertainment solutions. These are part of our convergence solutions that include connectivity, content, and digital solutions to empower the hospitality industry to ramp up their offerings more quickly. “In addition to more than 50 world-class channels from which they can choose, this solution provides the best in-room guest experience with five exciting new premium channels, including beIN Sports.” Ho Hock Doong, Head of unifi TV, explained that the new hospitality entertainment solutions were designed to allow these businesses the flexibility to customise their TV channels, elevating in-room guest experiences while saving costs at the same time. In addition to BEIN SPORTS 1 and 3 HD, the new premium channels selection will include DEGUP HD, CGTN HD and CCTV-4 HD – catering to these businesses’ diverse customers. The signing ceremony was held at the Kuala Lumpur Tower with Dr Phang Sue Ling, Chief Operating Officer, Genesis Life Care Centre Sdn Bhd; Kharil Hafez Harith Yahya, Aturan Lagenda-Ideas Hotel General Manager; Thomas A/L Anthony of Capitol Hotel; Lim Kae Juang from Federal Hotel; and Teoh Gee Chuan from Corus Hotel representing their respective businesses. In addition to Mohamad Yusman Ammeran and Ho Hock Doong, the signing ceremony was also witnessed by Kenneth Oh, Deputy Secretary, The Malaysia Budget Hotel Association; and Maznan Deraman, Head of SME Medium Business Segment, unifi Business. Mohamad Yusman concluded, “In supporting SMEs regain their footing post pandemic, we remain committed to helping these local industries become more sustainable and resilient through our comprehensive business solutions. Through these offerings, we strive to empower the hospitality industry to attract more customers, and revitalise both their businesses and the nation’s economy.”
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