Malaysia’s leading Pay-TV operator, Astro, is relaunching its streaming service, Sooka, with a bold new look and significantly improved technology under the hood. At the heart of the transformation is a strategic collaboration with Irdeto, the cybersecurity and digital platform specialist under South Africa’s MultiChoice Group.
This makeover is not just a fresh coat of paint. Astro has returned to the drawing board, enlisting Irdeto’s “Experience” platform to completely rebuild Sooka—from backend infrastructure to user interface—delivering a faster, smarter, and more secure service aimed at meeting the expectations of today’s digital viewer.
What’s new? Practically everything. Users can anticipate a sleek new interface, quicker performance, smarter content discovery, tailored recommendations, and support for targeted advertising. Of course, security remains a top priority, with Irdeto integrating robust anti-piracy protections throughout.
According to Irdeto, this revamp is not just cosmetic—it’s strategic. The updated Sooka platform is designed to scale easily as the user base grows while reducing operational costs and enhancing performance. Astro Group CEO Euan Smith describes the reboot as a “major milestone” for the brand. Early reactions have been promising, with a noticeable increase in app store ratings and positive feedback from users.
“With Irdeto’s innovation and proven track record, we believe Sooka is set to become Malaysia’s go-to streaming app,” Smith said. From Irdeto’s perspective, the partnership represents a strong vote of confidence in their technology and team. CEO Doug Lowther expressed pride in the collaboration, calling it “an honour to support Astro in this bold transformation.”
To bring the vision to life, Irdeto has teamed up with a network of tech collaborators, including To The New, Broadspeak, and Bitmovin, ensuring a modern, future-ready platform. With over five decades of experience in digital media, Irdeto is positioning this project as a showcase of its ability to manage large-scale, complex deployments—highlighting security expertise and end-to-end delivery of premium digital experiences.
