Free-to-air push planned

True Visions, the country’s largest pay-TV operator, wants to expand into free-to-air broadcasting to boost revenue and support its future commercial digital terrestrial TV channels.

Attaphon na Bangxang, chief programming officer, said last week that a free-to-air service would help the company reach a mass audience, particularly in satellite TV, on top of its existing pay-TV subscribers. 

Though digital terrestrial TV broadcasting will be launched this year, satellite TV penetration is expected to continue growing in the next couple of years. Of the total 22 million households, 65 per cent use satellite TV to watch free-to-air TV channels. 

“As a leading content provider, True Visions can utilise that content via a wide variety of channels and platforms,” he said.

Last year, the company put some of its own pay-TV channels such as TNN 24, True Select and Reality Show on the satellite-TV platform. TNN 24 runs news programmes around the clock. True Select is a 24-hour home-shopping channel operated by True GS, a joint venture with GS Shop from South Korea, The Mall Group and CP All, the operator of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain. 

Beside those existing TV channels, the company also introduced two free-to-air satellite-TV channels – Channel 10 for variety and entertainment programmes and He Ha for family and comedy programmes. 

This is also a part of the company’s preparation to support its coming commercial digital terrestrial TV channel. True Visions has expressed interest in joining the auction for commercial digital terrestrial TV licences in October.

The existing free analogue TV business remained strong in advertising revenue and audience ratings while free-to-air satellite TV was also gaining share in ad spending. But pay-TV is expected to face fierce competition due to new players entering the stagnant market. 

In a developing country like Thailand, it appears that pay-TV subscribers represent only 10 per cent of total households. 

To maintain existing subscribers and appeal to new ones, True Visions focuses on introducing high-definition (HD) channels, exclusive TV programmes and a wide range of packages to reach all types of audiences, particularly mass viewers. 

For next year, the company has earmarked Bt2.1 billion on upgrading existing TV channels to HD. Next year there should be at least 50 HD channels, including a new channel that will telecast live La Liga soccer. True Visions has already secured a sub-licence deal from the country’s leading music and entertainment firm RS, the rights holder of the Spanish football league’s next two seasons.