TrueVisions, PSI offer new multi-channel set-top box

This is considered an attempt to increase the number of viewers for TrueVisions while PSI Holding, the largest manufacturer and trader of satellite TV receivers, can enjoy additional revenue from sales of the new PSI True TV box.
Ong-ard Prapakamol, chief commercial officer of TrueVisions, said the company targeted sales of at least 300,000 of the boxes by the end of this year, on top of the existing 300,000 TrueLife Plus boxes.
In this market, there are a handful of key players. For example, leading music and entertainment firm RS aims to lure customers with broadcasts of Spain’s La Liga soccer matches via its set-top Sunbox, which is mainly distributed by Infosat Intertrade, a satellite-dish manufacturer. RS expects to sell at least 800,000 boxes in next three years.
Meanwhile, another leading music and entertainment giant, GMM Grammy, entered the satellite TV business last year via its subsidiary GMM Z. Yesterday it posted 24-per-cent year-on-year revenue growth in first half of this year to more than Bt6 billion, mainly driven by GMM Z.
Chief executive officer Busaba Daoruang said that in the first six months the company enjoyed Bt6.076 billion in revenue, and Bt196 million in net profit. This mainly resulted from the broadcasting business, particularity in the second quarter. GMM Z sold about 800,000 satellite TV set-top boxes during the live coverage of the Union of European Football Associations’ Euro 2012 tournament in June and July.
GMM Grammy hopes that this year it will be able to sell 2 million set-top boxes.
By the end of this year, the company will offer a prepaid service to registered customers wanting to access pay-TV content on its 10 special channels via GMM Z satellite receivers. For example, the Bt300-monthly package offers five or six sports channels and the Bt200 package four entertainment channels.
With this expansion, the company expects to reach break-even point within three years, Busaba said.