'Joh Jai' to return on digital One channel
JSL Global Media will bring its 24-year-old popular variety talk show "Joh Jai" (Straight to the Heart) back on the One high-definition digital TV channel, according to an industry source.
The source told The Nation last week that the leading TV production house and GMM One TV Trading and GMM One HD Trading – a subsidiary of GMM Grammy – had reached an agreement. JSL Global Media will soon give more details.
"Joh-Jai" came to an end on March 12. It premiered in January 1991 on Channel 5.
For two decades, "Joh Jai" was highly popular for showing touching stories hosted by well-known presenters Dumrong Puttan, Narakorn Tiyayon, Piti Bhirombhakdi and Sanya Kunakorn. Despite its long relationship with Channel 5, JSL Global Media had to make a tough decision to discontinue its flagship TV show due to intense competition in the broadcasting industry.
Channel 5, which is run by the Army, is transforming itself from a commercial station into a public broadcaster for national security, while suffering a steep slide in ratings and advertising revenue after the 24 terrestrial-based digital TV stations began operating last year.
It also faced a great loss after key content suppliers like Workpoint Entertainment and Exact Scenario decided to air some of its TV programmes on their own digital TV channels.
Workpoint operates Workpoint Creative TV. Exact Scenario provides its TV programmes to One.
Surapol Perapongpipath, managing director of GMM One TV Trading, declined to comment on the move but said One was anticipating very positive feedback from viewers and advertisers after recently adding a Thai drama on weekday evenings and variety and game shows.
"Top advertisers like Unilever Holdings, Toyota, Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola and L’Oreal have confidence to spend their budget with our station," he added.
