Measat In Talks For Joint Venture With Ignou

Malaysian broadcaster Measat Broadcast Network System (MBNS) is negotiating with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for satellite-based professional education programmes.

According to Measat sources, the Kuala Lumpur-based broadcaster is seeking to form a joint venture with IGNOU or a consortium of Indian universities for the purpose.

MBNS, in which the Malaysian government has a stake, plans to evolve a mechanism for licensing of footprints of the Measat series of satellites for TV signals and other value added services through interactive PC television.

"Measat will be a minority partner in the educational joint venture," the sources said, adding, "We have not yet decided on the shape of the joint venture and whether to have separate ventures with universities, including IGNOU, or a single one with a consortium of universities."

 

MBNS has introduced Asian TV subscribers to an all-digital direct-to-home service through Measat-1 and 2 satellites.

The broadcaster has been in talks with Microsoft to introduce interactive television and other value-added services in the Asia-pacific region through Measat-3 satellite slated to be put in orbit next year.

The broadcasters are also in talks with Indian universities to design study packages for students in Malyasia and other parts of Asia.

MBNS's interactive PC television project, likely to be introduced with the launch of Measat-3 in Asia-Pacific region, is part of Malaysia's plans to become the hub of Asia's information technology activities by 2020.

The project will be completed in four phases and will make use of Measat-3 satellite which is slated for launch next year. It will cover Australia too.

The interactive PC television will enable MBNS to become a multi-purpose broadcasting company serving subscribers in the Asia-Pacific region with a host of services like `virtual university' and telebanking.

According to MBNS estimates, the PC television market is 4.6 million households and is expected to grow.

The virtual university which MBNS plans to introduce is likely to have a curricula which will offer students a number of courses of universities spread across the globe. Its monitoring base will be the All Asia Broadcast Centre in Kuala Lumpur's Technology Park area which is also the nerve centre of Astro's operations for Malaysia and other markets within the footprint of Measat satellites.

Astro is a brand name owned by MBNS under which the company carries out its broadcasting activities_- DTH _ in TV and radio.