PPTV to freeze advert rates for six months
Bangkok Media and Broadcasting, the operator of PPTV - high-definition digital channel 36 - plans to freeze its advertising rates for at least six months in order to retain major advertisers as it expects competition to get more intense.
“The decision to keep the rates unchanged is in line with the revamp of our viewing schedule this month to enlarge the audience base and improve ratings,” BMB president Kematat Paladesh said yesterday.
PPTV will maintain an average advertising rate of Bt10,000 per minute, while the highest rate for prime-time slots, from 5pm to 11pm, will stay at Bt200,000 per minute with discounts. After June, the company will again consider increasing its ad rates.
In addition, the company aims to increase the average advertising occupancy rate to 80 per cent from 40 per cent currently.
Apart from retaining its existing advertisers, the station will welcome more content producers to supply TV programmes to the channel in an attempt to attract more viewers.
By the end of this year, the company hopes to be one of the five leading players in the digital TV industry. To achieve this goal, it will invest Bt1.6 billion in staff, new technology, TV production facilities and new content. It will add seasonal programmes, eight to 10 drama series, and reality shows to its schedule.
Of the total investment, about Bt200 million is earmarked for marketing campaigns to raise the station’s brand awareness.
Kematat said PPTV would produce and broadcast its own TV dramas, aiming to expand its viewership in rural areas. It will start with “Pueng-Dao”, produced by famous artist manager Supachai “A” Sriwichit.
However, he said the station would retain Korean programmes such as “Cunning Single”, “The Greatest Love” and “Big Man”, as they remain popular among Thai audiences.
