"We are working closely with the Malaysian government at all levels, " says MEASAT chief Edwards.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

On Nov. 13, a Malaysian consortium will launch its second Malaysia East Asia Satellite, MEASAT-2.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

Its younger sibling, MEASAT-1, is already beaming down a 23-channel network called Astro to subscribers' own satellite dishes.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

They are then encrypted and transmitted back up to the MEASAT satellite, along with the locally produced programs.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

If all goes well, MEASAT says it could break even in three years with a subscriber base of 700, 000.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

Programs are beamed down from commercial satellites to MEASAT's broadcast center, where they can be dubbed, subtitled and vetted.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

Malaysia's MEASAT would like to rely on subscribers for most of its revenue.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

Last month, the law was amended to allow receivers -- but only those of a certain type configured to pick up signals just from MEASAT.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER

Four of MEASAT's Astro channels will be packaged in-house.

CNN: ASIA'S NO PUSHOVER