ThaiTV3 to air Premier League matches
Bangkok Entertainment Company (BEC), the operator of ThaiTV3, plans to be an official broadcast partner of music and entertainment giant GMM Grammy for English Premier League soccer matches from 2013-2016 if the latter firm wins the bidding for EPL broadc
BEC managing director Pravit Maleenont said yesterday that the company was keen on international sports content because such programming could improve revenue in non-prime-time slots at the channel, as well as expand its viewer base, complementing its entertainment and news programmes.
Thus the company will focus on becoming an official broadcaster of major soccer events like EPL matches, the 2012 Uefa European Football Championship and the Euro 2012 tournament, as well as the Olympic Games.
However, Pravit said his company had no plan to bid for the Premier League broadcasting rights, though GMM Grammy recently acknowledged it was negotiating with other broadcasters on a possible joint bid for the rights, according to local newspaper reports.
GMM Grammy yesterday announced that BEC’s ThaiTV3 was an official broadcast partner for the Euro 2012 international soccer tournament. There are 31 matches during the tournament, from June 8 to July 1. Of these, 27 will be aired on ThaiTV3 while the rest will be screened on other channels including TV5, Channel 7 and Modernine TV.
Surin Krittayaphonphun, executive vice president at BEC, said the firm and GMM Grammy would jointly produce Euro 2012-related programming to build awareness among the target audiences. Under this partnership, the two companies will also share profits from advertising fees and sponsorship.
Kobkiat Sangwanich, managing director for GMM Sports and Content Development, said the Euro 2012 broadcasting rights were valued at about Bt450 million. GMM Grammy expects to receive income of more than Bt500 million from advertising and sponsorships, mainly from AP Honda and Thai Beverage.
During the tournament, BEC expects advertising income from non-prime-time programming to surge by 25-30 per cent, Surin said.
