Briefs

The Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station has officially launched its first mobile application, “ThaiTV5”, to provide news, information, live broadcasting, TV and radio programmes of its media network, including TV5, TGN and 94 FM, its president Lt-General Chatchai Sarikulya said |yesterday.
Users can download the application from iTunes’ AppStore for iPhone, iPad and iPod devices, and from Android Market for Android phones, for free.
 
Change at McCann Healthcare Thailand
McCann Worldgroup Thailand has announced a change in the leadership of McCann Healthcare Thailand, the group’s healthcare professional and direct-to-consumer communications discipline.
Ibolya Szentirmay, who hails from Australia, has taken over as general manager in succession to Krishnan Srinivasan, who is transferring to McCann Worldgroup Johannesburg to lead McCann Healthcare in South Africa.
In her new role, Szentirmay, a healthcare advertising |veteran, will continue the build-up of McCann’s healthcare business in Thailand, which has seen major growth over the years.
 
Grey Group appoints new area director
Global integrated communications agency Grey Group has promoted Nicky Lim, chief executive officer of Grey Group Malaysia, as area director for Malaysia and Thailand, with immediate effect.
Lim will continue to lead the group’s Malaysian operation, with added responsibility for Thailand.
With his 20-year experience in the industry, he has worked for leading communication agencies, namely McCann Worldgroup, Ogilvy & Mather and JWT in Kuala Lumpur.
 
Post-flood recovery boosts revenue
Government revenue exceeded the targets for March and the first half of the fiscal year, Fiscal Policy Office director-general Somchai Sujjapongse said yesterday.
Revenue last month totalled Bt141.59 billion, 5.7 per cent higher than estimated.
Revenue in the first half of the fiscal year, from October 1 to March 31, rose to Bt812.69 billion, 4.3 per cent higher than projected and 3 per cent above the same period a year ago. Economic recovery after the massive floods is a major factor behind the above-target performance, he said.
 
KFC apologises for tsunami gimmick
KFC Thailand has issued an apology after Thai netizens criticised the company for a Facebook message that urged people to rush home during Wednesday’s tsunami scare and order a bucket of KFC chicken.
As people were being urged to evacuate from coastal areas, the company posted the message: “Let’s hurry home and follow the earthquake news. And don’t forget to order your favourite KFC menu.”
It prompted hundreds of angry comments on a variety of Thai Web boards that denounced the company as insensitive and selfish.
By yesterday, however, the message was removed and replaced by one that asked for forgiveness. – The Nation