• The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is exploring regulatory intervention on Android set-top boxes (STBs), as reported by The Star.

• The MCMC will be looking to address the issues of illegal STBs with services that allow access to pirated content via two ways: i) the technical aspect of STBs in which they will need to get Sirim approvals, and ii) elements of copyright infringement relating to the content streamed that would fall under the Copyright Act.

• Meanwhile, the MCMC's network security and enforcement sector chief Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin added that it could also explore regulatory intervention or working with manufacturers to prevent downloading of certain content.

• Earlier this month, Singapore’s Ministry of Law and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) announced plans to introduce new regulation banning the sale of illegal STBs in the country after a 3-year review of the country’s Copyright Act.

• Piracy concerns amid the proliferation of STBs have been a cause of concern for pay-TV operators such as Astro Malaysia (Astro), thus we believe that regulation to combat piracy would be a positive development for Astro in cushioning declines in its pay-TV subscription rates.

• Following the recent run-up in its share price, we downgrade Astro to a HOLD from BUY with an unchanged fair value of RM1.66/share based on a discount rate equivalent to its WACC of 9% and a terminal growth rate of 0%. This is despite its sturdy earning prospects underpinned by its vernacular content proposition coupled with its strong household penetration rate of 76% as at 3QFY19, as we believe its positive prospects have been fairly priced in.

Source: AmInvest Research - 30 Jan 2019