Population: As of the first quarter of 2024, Malaysia's estimated population is approximately 33.7 million.
Household Size: The average household size in Malaysia is about 3.8 persons per household (based on recent census data).
Demographics:
Age Structure: Malaysia has a relatively young population, with a significant portion in the working-age group. The median age is approximately 30.6 years.
Ethnic Composition: The population is diverse, primarily composed of Bumiputera (including Malays and indigenous groups like Dayak, Kadazan-Dusun, Orang Asli) at around 69.9%, Chinese at 22.8%, Indians at 6.6%, and other ethnic groups at 0.7%.
Urbanization: Over 77% of Malaysia's population resides in urban areas, indicating a high degree of urbanization.
Gender Ratio: Slightly more males than females, with a sex ratio of around 107 males per 100 females.
Internet and Digital Usage
Internet Penetration: As of early 2024, internet penetration in Malaysia is very high, with approximately 97.4% of the population having internet access. This translates to about 32.8 million internet users.
Time Spent Online: On average, Malaysians spend around 8 hours and 58 minutes per day using the internet across various devices.
Social Media Usage: Social media penetration is also high, with around 82.2% of the total population actively using social media platforms, equating to approximately 27.65 million users.
Mobile Usage: Smartphone penetration is widespread, with mobile connectivity surpassing the total population, indicating multiple device ownership. Over 96% of internet users access the internet via mobile phones.
E-commerce: E-commerce is robust and growing, with a significant portion of the population engaging in online shopping. The e-commerce market value continues to expand year-on-year, driven by convenience and digital payment adoption.
Current Exchange Rate
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) Exchange Rates (Approximate, as of early June 2024):
1 USD ≈ 4.70 MYR
1 EUR ≈ 5.10 MYR
1 GBP ≈ 5.95 MYR
1 SGD ≈ 3.48 MYR
Note: These rates are indicative and subject to real-time market fluctuations.
Founded in 1997 as a DVD-by-mail service. Launched its streaming service in 2007. Expanded globally, including its availability in Malaysia, offering a vast library of on-demand content.
Company Location
Los Gatos, California, USA
Total Audience Volumes
Over 260 million global paid subscribers as of Q1 2024. Has a significant and loyal subscriber base in Malaysia, establishing itself as a leading streaming platform.
Content Categories Provided
Movies, TV Shows, Documentaries, Stand-up Comedy, Anime, Kids' Content, Netflix Originals across various genres (drama, comedy, action, thriller, romance, sci-fi).
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, etc.), Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PlayStation consoles (PS4, PS5), Xbox consoles (Xbox One, Series X/S), various set-top boxes, and Bluray players.
The Walt Disney Company (Hotstar platform originally launched by Star India, acquired by Disney via 21st Century Fox acquisition)
History
Launched in Malaysia in June 2021. It combined The Walt Disney Company's vast global content library with a strong collection of local and regional content sourced from the Hotstar platform, catering specifically to the Southeast Asian market.
Company Location
Burbank, California, USA (The Walt Disney Company)
Total Audience Volumes
Over 150 million global Disney+ subscribers. Achieved strong market penetration in Malaysia shortly after launch due to its comprehensive content library, particularly popular franchises.
Content Categories Provided
Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Star (general entertainment including Hulu/FX content), extensive Local Malaysian content, Indian films and series, Korean dramas, Hollywood blockbuster movies, and TV series.
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Android TV), Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation consoles (PS4, PS5), Xbox consoles (Xbox One, Series X/S).
Evolved from "Astro On-The-Go," Astro GO was launched as a complimentary streaming service exclusively for Astro satellite TV subscribers. It allows users to stream content from their subscribed Astro packages on mobile devices and web, significantly enhancing the value proposition of Astro's traditional offerings.
Company Location
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Total Audience Volumes
Available to all Astro TV subscribers, which represents a large proportion of Malaysian households. Astro serves over 5.5 million residential customers, providing Astro GO with a substantial potential user base.
Content Categories Provided
Live TV channels, On-demand movies, TV series, Sports (football, badminton, etc.), Kids' content, Documentaries, and News, all aligned with the user's existing Astro TV subscription packages. Features extensive local, Asian, and Western content.
Service Platforms
iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, and web browsers.
Launched in mid-2021 by Astro as a standalone, mobile-first streaming service. It aimed to capture younger demographics and users who prefer digital-only subscriptions, offering a mix of live sports and premium entertainment content without requiring a traditional Astro satellite TV subscription.
Company Location
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Total Audience Volumes
As a relatively new service, it has a growing user base in Malaysia, specifically targeting mobile-first users and sports enthusiasts who seek flexible streaming options.
Content Categories Provided
Live sports (e.g., Premier League, BWF Badminton, NBA), Local Malaysian dramas & movies, popular Korean dramas, selected Astro Originals, general entertainment, and kids' programming.
Service Platforms
iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, web browsers, and Android TV compatible Smart TVs.
Originally launched in 2006 in the US as Amazon Unbox, later renamed Amazon Instant Video, and eventually Prime Video. It expanded globally to over 200 countries and territories, including Malaysia, offering a mix of licensed content and exclusive Amazon Originals.
Company Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Total Audience Volumes
Over 200 million global Amazon Prime members have access to Prime Video. Its subscriber base in Malaysia is steadily growing, benefiting from Amazon's global presence and extensive original content.
Content Categories Provided
Movies, TV series, critically acclaimed Amazon Originals (e.g., The Boys, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Invincible), Documentaries, and Kids' content across a wide array of genres.
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Vizio), Amazon Fire TV devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation consoles (PS4, PS5), Xbox consoles (Xbox One, Series X/S), and various set-top boxes.
Launched in Hong Kong in 2015. Viu rapidly expanded across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, carving out a significant niche by focusing heavily on popular Asian content, especially Korean and Chinese dramas, alongside its own original productions. It has a strong and active presence in Malaysia.
Company Location
Hong Kong
Total Audience Volumes
Over 65 million monthly active users globally as of late 2023. Holds a significant user base in Malaysia, particularly among fans of Korean dramas, Chinese dramas, and other regional Asian content.
Content Categories Provided
Extensive library of Korean dramas & variety shows, Chinese dramas, Thai dramas, Japanese anime, Local Malaysian originals and licensed content, Indian films & series, and Viu Originals. Content often includes fast-pass access and multi-language subtitles.
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, Smart TVs (selected models), Apple TV, and Chromecast.
Launched in 2010 by Chinese tech giant Baidu. iQIYI expanded internationally, including Malaysia, bringing its vast library of Chinese content, alongside a growing selection of Korean, Thai, and other Asian dramas and anime, and investing heavily in original productions.
Company Location
Beijing, China
Total Audience Volumes
Over 100 million global paid subscribers (includes both domestic and international). Experiencing rapid growth in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, attracting users with its strong offering of Asian entertainment.
Content Categories Provided
Extensive library of Chinese dramas & variety shows, popular Korean dramas, Japanese anime, Thai dramas, Films, Documentaries, and iQIYI Originals. Content is often available with multi-language subtitles and dubbed options.
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, Smart TVs (selected models), Apple TV, and Chromecast.
Tencent Holdings (WeTV). iflix was founded by Patrick Grove, Luke Elliott, Mark Britt. (iflix's assets were acquired by Tencent Video in 2020)
History
WeTV is Tencent's international streaming platform, launched to extend its content reach beyond China. iflix was a prominent regional streaming service in Southeast Asia, launched in 2015. Following its acquisition by Tencent Video in 2020, iflix's content and operations were largely integrated into WeTV in many markets, making WeTV the primary active brand for new content and services in Malaysia.
Company Location
Shenzhen, China (Tencent Holdings)
Total Audience Volumes
WeTV boasts a large user base across Asia. iflix previously had millions of users across Southeast Asia. The combined presence under the WeTV brand is significant in Malaysia, particularly for Chinese and other Asian content.
Content Categories Provided
Extensive Chinese dramas & variety shows, Thai dramas, Korean dramas, Japanese anime, original productions, and a library of local films & series (many inherited from iflix's catalog).
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, Smart TVs (selected models), Apple TV, and Chromecast.
Launched in 2010 by Media Prima, Malaysia's largest media conglomerate, Tonton holds the distinction of being Malaysia's first local video streaming service. Initially offering free content, it later introduced premium tiers, focusing primarily on a comprehensive library of Malaysian-produced content.
Company Location
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Total Audience Volumes
Has a significant number of registered users in Malaysia, maintaining its position as a key platform for local Malaysian content.
Content Categories Provided
Extensive library of Malaysian dramas, TV shows, movies, news and current affairs, live streaming of Media Prima's free-to-air channels (TV3, NTV7, 8TV, TV9), kids' content, and a selection of popular Korean and Japanese dramas.
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, and selected Smart TVs.
Launched in Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia by HBO Asia, initially as an add-on streaming service for HBO content, complementing traditional pay-TV subscriptions. While globally the platform is evolving to HBO Max (now simply Max in some regions), HBO Go continues to operate in many Southeast Asian markets, including Malaysia.
Company Location
New York, USA (Warner Bros. Discovery)
Total Audience Volumes
Maintains a loyal subscriber base in Malaysia, particularly among viewers seeking premium Hollywood dramas, movies, and exclusive HBO original series.
Content Categories Provided
Extensive library of HBO Original series (e.g., Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Succession, The Last of Us), Max Originals, a wide selection of Hollywood blockbuster movies, documentaries, and kids' content from Warner Bros. and other affiliated studios.
Service Platforms
Web browsers, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android smartphones & tablets, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Android TV), Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation consoles (PS4, PS5), and Xbox consoles (Xbox One, Series X/S).
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