RS hopes to see a doubling of revenue from digital Channel 8 next year

The company is also planning to conduct a series of roadshows for overseas investor institutes to persuade them to acquire 15 per cent of its shares, up from about 6-7 per cent now.

Chief operating officer Pornpan Techarungchaikul told The Nation that after the launch of Channel 8 on the digital terrestrial platform, RS witnessed very positive feedback both from the audience and advertising agencies. Channel 8 was ranked in the top five among the new digital stations, which RS attributes to attractive programmes including drama, variety, music and sports.

Encouraged by this, RS will raise its advertising rate to Bt50,000 per minute, effective next month, from the current Bt10,000.

Apart its digital channel, RS also maintains its satellite-TV business in order to welcome small and medium-sized advertisers.

“Though digital TV appears to be the new excitement in the broadcasting industry, it is undeniable that more than 70 per cent of households in the country are watching TV via the satellite platform. Given this factor, Channel 2 is still functioning and serving such demand,” Pornpan said.

To keep advertisers spending on Channel 2, the company has put about Bt200 million into the station this year to improve content and activities.

The COO refused to disclose how much would be invested next year on the two channels. However, she believes that this business unit will be a key revenue driver.

RS is also planning to meet with investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and the United States to give them better understanding about the change of the Thai broadcasting business towards terrestrially based digital television.

Through these strategic roadshows, high-ranking executives from the company will meet investors in Singapore and Hong Kong on January 26, then in Japan and the US during the second quarter.

RS targets new investment from overseas after these roadshows.