TV Thunder and Zense cash in on demand from digital channels

Among the major content-production companies, 22-year-old TV Thunder is playing a very active role in supporting increasing demand from digital-TV broadcasters.

To cash in on this opportunity, TV Thunder is preparing itself for a listing in the Market for Alternative Investment next month, after appointing Asset Pro Management as official financial adviser last December.

Chief executive officer Patraporn Wannapinyo said TV Thunder had earmarked about Bt300 million for this year’s expansion.

The company will build new studios to expand its production capacity, she said, adding that the new studios and production equipment will cost about Bt200 million.

The expanded facilities will be located on a 6-rai (1 hectare) site in the Ramkhamhaeng area of Bangkok.

The remaining Bt100 million of this year’s outlay will be used for programme production for its clients.

Despite having a strong relationship with Bangkok Entertainment Company – the operator of TV Channel 3 – TV Thunder has adjusted its strategy to work with new digital-TV channels, particularly top-10 most-watched channels such as Thairath, PPTV, Mono 29, One and True 4U, said the CEO.

The company is preparing about 10 shows for this year’s line-up, three or four of which are international formats, she added.

Meanwhile, Zense Entertainment also expects to see its business grow following new developments in |the Bt80-billion TV broadcasting industry.

The company produces and supplies a number of shows both for analogue and digital-TV channels.

These include "Asian Together", "Do Me A Favour", "Step Right Up", "Wan Ta Duang" (a horoscope game show) and a situation comedy, all for Modernine TV; the "Lub Luang Lork" game show for Thairath TV; the "Honeymoon Fight" variety talk show for 3SD; and "The Money Drop Thailand" for Channel 7.

To cope with the increased demand, the company has invested Bt200 million for new studios and another Bt200 million for content development.

Chairman and chief executive officer Varavuth Jentakul said his company had set a target of Bt300 million in terms of new business this year.

Leading TV-programme production giants like Kantana Group and JSL Global Media have also won new assignments both from analogue and digital-TV channels.

Chairman Jareuk Kaljareuk told The Nation that even though Kantata Group had a strong partnership with Bangkok Broadcasting and Television – the operator of Channel 7 – the company’s subsidiary Kantana Evolution, run by new-generation executives, was also working with other broadcasters.

With the rights to famous international TV formats, Kantana Evolution produced "The Face Thailand" reality show last year and "Don’t Lose the Money", both for Channel 3.

The company also produces "Family Secret" for Modernine TV and the localised version of "Ugly Better" for Thairath TV.