Thairath TV banks on boost in contents
Thairath TV is planning to invest Bt1.6 billion mainly on contents next year in a bid to achieve its revenue target of Bt1.5 billion, which was recently revised from the original goal of Bt1.2 billion. About Bt1.2 billion will go for contents and related
About Bt300 million will be used to build a 13-storey studio on the grounds of Thairath’s head office. Construction will begin soon and is expected to be completed by 2016.
The new complex would be home to three to four hi-tech studios equipped with a virtual studio system, robotic system in the control room and media asset management system. This would help Thairath TV enhance its in-house programming.
The remaining Bt120 million will be for marketing and promotion of the station.
“So far, we have received very good feedback from viewers, business partners and advertisers after operating six months. Among the leading terrestrial-based digital TV players, Thairath TV is considered in the top five,” Jitsupa Vacharapol, chief strategy and marketing officer of Triple V Broadcast, said yesterday.
The company is the operator of Thairath TV, which broadcasts variety programmes in high definition.
With five key founding sponsors – Bangkok Bank, Advance Info Service, Isuzu, Unilever and Tesco Lotus – and other main sponsors, the company expects that it will hit its revenue target of Bt500 million for this year.
“The right contents provided by the station were among the key factors that helped make our goal become a reality,” she said.
“Thairath News Show” is the most popular programme among viewers.
“The Thai Rath daily newspaper has a strong presence in the country and has reached the mass audience for more than 60 years. Thairath TV inherited such a legacy for news programmes,” she said.
To strengthen this leading position in news coverage, Watchara Vacharapol, chief executive officer of Triple V Broadcast, said next year Thairath TV would work closely with its affiliate Thai Rath to produce more comprehensive local news.
“Forty TV news teams will combine their strength with 300 news reporters of Thai Rath daily newspaper, who are ready to cover stories across the country,” he said.
For entertainment and variety, the company plans to add more game shows, series and reality programmes with the highlights including “Time Hunter” and “Ugly Betty Thailand”, which is the first format series of the station from the series that has been successful around the world.
Other key offerings are BBC documentaries, the Chinese series “Pao Boon Jin” and live broadcasts of Barclays Premier League matches.
