Astro Kirana

Astro Kirana was a Malaysian satellite television channel operated within the Astro television platform. It was introduced as a dedicated film service, carrying Asian and European movies in a 24-hour schedule. The channel launched on 31 August 2006, alongside Astro Aruna, and was initially assigned channel 43. Its launch coincided with Malaysia's 49th National Day celebrations, giving the service a prominent position in Astro's channel line-up during its opening period. The service was positioned as a specialist movie channel rather than a broad general-entertainment network. Its programming focus on Asian and European cinema distinguished it from Astro's more established entertainment services, including Astro Ria. Astro Kirana subsequently underwent several channel-number changes as Astro reorganized its electronic programme guide. On 23 December 2006, it moved from channel 43 to channel 23. On 1 October 2007, it was assigned the three-digit channel number 122. Astro discontinued Astro Kirana on 18 May 2009. The stated reason was weak audience performance: the channel reportedly achieved a 2% viewing ratio, compared with 12% for Astro Ria. The closure reflected Astro's decision to allocate platform capacity to services with stronger audience demand. The channel slot was later associated with Astro Citra, another Astro movie service, and much later with TVS, which began broadcasting on Astro on 10 October 2020. Astro Kirana is therefore best understood as a discontinued Astro movie-channel brand and an earlier stage in the evolution of Astro's film and entertainment channel portfolio.

Astro Kirana was launched by Astro in Malaysia on 31 August 2006 as a dedicated film channel. Its opening date coincided with the country's 49th National Day celebrations, and the service debuted alongside Astro Aruna. Unlike general entertainment channels, Astro Kirana was designed around a 24-hour movie schedule, with an emphasis on films from Asian and European markets. At launch, Astro Kirana was available on channel 43 of the Astro platform. The channel number was changed to 23 on 23 December 2006 and later to 122 on 1 October 2007, when Astro introduced a three-digit numbering arrangement for the service. These changes formed part of Astro's broader electronic programme-guide and channel-line-up adjustments rather than changes to the channel's core programming identity. Astro Kirana remained on the platform until 18 May 2009. Astro ended the broadcast after the channel recorded a reported 2% viewing ratio, compared with 12% for Astro Ria. The figures indicated that the specialist service was attracting substantially less audience than a major Astro entertainment channel, and the platform operator consequently discontinued it. The service was later followed in the relevant channel position by Astro Citra, another Astro movie-oriented channel. In a subsequent platform change, TVS began broadcasting on Astro on 10 October 2020. Astro Kirana's history thus reflects the short-lived operation of a niche pay-television movie brand and Astro's continuing adjustment of its channel portfolio in response to audience performance and programming strategy.

• 2020

  TVS begins broadcasting on Astro

  [1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  TVS officially begins broadcasting on Astro on 10 October, following later changes involving the relevant channel position.

• 2009

  Broadcast discontinued

  [1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  Astro ends Astro Kirana's broadcast on 18 May after reported audience performance of 2%.

• 2007

  Channel moves to number 122

  [1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  Astro Kirana is assigned channel number 122 on 1 October as Astro uses a three-digit numbering format.

• 2006

  Astro Kirana launches

  [1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  Astro Kirana begins broadcasting in Malaysia on 31 August as a 24-hour channel dedicated to Asian and European films. It launches on channel 43 alongside Astro Aruna.

• 2006

  First channel-number change

  [1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel moves from channel 43 to channel 23 on 23 December.

A specialist 24-hour movie channel within Astro's Malaysian satellite television portfolio, focused on Asian and European cinema.

• Pay television channel · 2006

  Astro Kirana film channel

  A 24-hour Malaysian satellite television service carrying Asian and European films. The channel was Astro's specialist movie offering under the Astro Kirana name and operated from 2006 until its discontinuation in May 2009.

• 2009

  Discontinuation of Astro KiranaStrategy

  Background

  Astro Kirana reportedly attracted a 2% viewing ratio, while Astro Ria achieved a reported 12% ratio.

  Action taken

  Astro stopped broadcasting the channel on 18 May 2009.

  Aftermath

  The channel was later associated with Astro Citra and, after further platform changes, with TVS.

  Source

• 2020

  TVS later occupies the former channel position on Astro[1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  TVS began broadcasting officially on Astro on 10 October 2020, following later changes to the channel position associated with Astro Kirana and Astro Citra.

• 2009

  Astro Kirana discontinued after weak audience performance[1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Astro stopped broadcasting Astro Kirana on 18 May 2009 after the channel was reported to have a 2% viewing ratio, substantially below Astro Ria's reported 12% ratio.

• 2006

  Astro Kirana launches in Malaysia[1]Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Astro introduced Astro Kirana as a 24-hour Malaysian movie channel on 31 August 2006, with programming centered on Asian and European films.

1. 1Astro Kiranaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Astro official websiteastro.com.my