Astro adds Netflix button on its Ultra Box remote control

Satellite pay-TV operator, Astro, will soon offer Netflix streaming service on its platform. Similar to its recent Disney+ Hotstar partnership, Astro subscribers will get to enjoy Netflix and have the convenience of being charged in a single bill. On top of that, you can also watch Netflix directly on the Astro Ultra Box.

Before the Netflix service is officially rolled out, Astro has revealed a new remote control that now comes with a dedicated Netflix button. This provides instant access to Netflix similar to what you get on most remote controls included with new Android TV devices.

For existing Astra Ultra Box users with the old remote, you can still access Netflix and future apps from the Astro home page. The rest of the features and user interface for the remote remains unchanged. Interestingly, there’s no dedicated button for Disney+ Hotstar, which is expected to have its own app on the Ultra and Ulti-connected boxes by the end of this year.

At the time of writing, it isn’t clear if the new remote is already included for new subscribers and whether there will be an option for existing users to purchase the new version. The new remote appears to have additional 4 buttons which provide direct access to Apps, Movies, Store and Sports as shown below. For Netflix, it seems that the Pay TV operator remapped the “Store” button for the Netflix shortcut.

Astro has yet to reveal its Netflix subscription package and interested subscribers can currently register their interest on their website. The streaming bundle is said to launch in the “coming months” without a definite date. At the moment, Netflix costs RM55/month for its Premium option that provides 4K HDR streaming and up to 4 simultaneous devices.

Disney+ Hotstar is currently bundled for free to all Astro Movies Pack customers after the monthly fee was increased by RM5 per month. To watch it on the big screen, currently, you’ll have to use either Android TV, Apple TV or Chromecast.