Digital TV, World Cup pay-out help drive up RS profits in Q3
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RS EARNED Bt262.3 million on Bt1.25 billion of revenue in the third quarter, mainly driven by its digital-TV business and compensation from the broadcasting regulator for the abrupt change in the provision of World Cup telecasts.
Chief financial officer Darm Nana said yesterday that third-quarter revenue was up 37.4 per cent from the same quarter last year, while net profit shot up 111.2 per cent.
The media business surged 88 per cent to Bt1.07 billion, with Channel 8 digital TV and Channel 2 as the heroes, thanks to increasing advertising volume and income after an increase in rates this year.
Channel 8 is the highest-rated digital channel, while Channel 2 aims to become No 1 among satellite-TV variety channels.
The most popular programmes on Channel 8 are “Siang Sawan Pichit Fun” and the drama “Phua Chua Krao”, and at Channel 2 are “Kon Dung Nung Clear”, “Games Dara Shalala” and “Show Tak Fong”.
The compensation was for the business loss following the sudden change in policy regarding live broadcasts of the World Cup soccer matches. The company has already received Bt369.8 million from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and Bt57.1 million is expected to come later.
This final quarter of the year looks promising, with the media business expected to continue thriving.
More content will be added to Channel 8 to extend its viewer base to more segments, keeping in line with the slogan “Your Friend Everywhere, TV for Everyone”.
RS will partner with HBO Boxing to broadcast matches from this quarter to next year. It is bringing famous shows such as “Naruto”, “Hunter X Hunter”, a Chinese series, new drama “Mia Thuen” by producer Kunnanat Kulpreeyawat, starring Rattapoom “Film” Tokongsup and Ratchawin “Koy” Wongviriya, and singing contest Rong Laek Like”.
Channel 2 is also joining forces with many business partners to introduce campaigns throughout this quarter to increase brand awareness and draw new viewers, Darm said.
