BizBuzz

IT seems that the digital-TV vouchers given out by the NBTC could not persuade all consumers to use the Bt690 coupon to purchase digital-TV receivers – either set-top boxes or integrated digital-TV sets.
As a consumer, Wannee Ruttanaphon chairwoman of the Media Agency Association of Thailand (MAAT) and chairwoman of IPG Mediabrands, admits that she also got a coupon but said she had no intention to use it.
Without it, she was still entertained and happy |with free TV programmes |via her own cable and satellite TV receivers as a result |of the NBTC’s ‘must carry’ rule.
“On top of that, both cable and satellite TV operators offer me more choices with a hundred variety TV channels, ranging from kids, international news, documentaries, entertainment, music and sport,” she explained.
She predicted that of the 8.3 million total digital-TV coupons issued, only 40 per cent would be used to purchase digital receivers – and that the remaining 60 per cent had no intent to use their coupons.
Ironically, the penetration of satellite TV receivers continues to grow despite the digital TV subsidy. So far, more than 75 per cent of the 23 million households still watch TV via satellite platforms.

DO WE HAVE TO PAY |SECOND-YEAR FEE?
Amid the weak response to coupons and incomplete networks, many digital TV players have urged the national broadcasting authorities to allow them to postpone payment of the second-year fee that is due next month.
Pete Bodharamik, chairman of Mono Group, said Mono TV 29 channel was doing very well with growing rating and advertising revenue.
The channel is expected to reap Bt1 billion in revenue this year and will have to invest only Bt500 million more in 2015, mostly for content acquisitions.
“We are very ready to pay the fee,” he said.
But he said not postponing the fee would be fine too, since it would help to show what companies are doing okay and what companies are not.

Contributed by Watchiranont Thongtep