Astro third-quarter earnings down 3% on lower revenue

PETALING JAYA: Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd net profit for the third quarter declined by 3% to RM146.68mil as compared to the previous corresponding quarter last year on lower revenue.

The group said its average revenue per user, a key measure of its performance, however, increased 80 sen year-on-year to RM100.7, driven by take up of value-added products and services.

Astro’s customer reach and engagement also grew, with its home proposition serving 5.3 million or 73% of Malaysian households, having registered a net growth of 313,000 customers primarily driven by NJOI.

The group’s total advertising expenditure (adex) increased marginally by 0.4% to RM526mil, against the backdrop of an 8% market decline, leading to a larger share in TV adex and radio adex at 44% and 74%, respectively.

Group CEO Datuk Rohana Rozhan said Astro is committed to growing its businesses by reinforcing and complementing its value propositions in the homes, and its reach and engagement to advertisers.

“At the same time, we are driving our growth engine of tomorrow in the digital life spaces, Nusantara content vertical and commerce both in Malaysia and Asean.

“In doing so, we are confident that we will continue to build on existing core revenue streams while driving profit growth by embracing digitalisation and cost economics.

“Concurrently, the investments we are making in new growth areas will ensure that we are able to sustain strong and continued value creation for our shareholders,” she said.

The board of directors have declared a third interim single-tier dividend of 3 sen per ordinary share in respect of the financial year ending January 31, 2018, amounting to about RM156.42mil to be paid out on Jan 5.

The entitlement date for the dividend payment is Dec 21.