Up to 60% of Modernine TV shows to be produced in-house

Last year’s launch of 24 terrestrial-based digital television channels gave a direct blow to existing channels like MCOT’s Modernine TV, which saw their share of viewers shrink. 

MCOT had to cut its advertising rates by 5-10 per cent. The state media enterprise also had to freeze its ad rates for this year. For example, prime time was left at Bt450,000 per minute. 

Workpoint Entertainment and Exact decided to move their highly rated shows from Modernine TV, as they wanted to focus more on their own new digital channels. 

Sivaporn Chomsuwan, director-general of MCOT, said yesterday that a new TV schedule must be in place. His team would increase the share of its own shows to 60 per cent from 54 per cent now. 

The remaining airtime slots would be reserved for outsourcing under leasing and timesharing contracts. MCOT has earmarked about Bt300 million for its own production, which was part of the Bt3-billion capital expenditure budget for this year. Besides content production, Bt2.7 billion will be prepared for the annual digital TV licence fee and the planned roll-out of its digital TV transmission network, which is partially leased out to other operators. 

Other key production houses are staying with the station, such as TV Burabha, Zense Entertainment, Panorama Worldwide and Woody World. 

To boost ad revenue, the company will focus on non-prime-time programmes. 

MCOT’s radio business will be another key engine of growth, Sivaporn said. 

MCOT will also develop its non-broadcasting business, including its 50-rai (8-hectare) site near its head office in the Rama IX area of Bangkok. 

The company targets at least 20-per-cent growth to Bt5 billion this year, of which Bt3 billion or 60 per cent will come from the TV business, Bt1 billion from the radio business and the rest from other businesses.