Exact Scenario set to exit Ch 3
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GMM Grammy's Exact Scenario is preparing to walk away from TV Channel 3 by September following a change in its long-time partner's content policy amid severe competition in the digital TV business.
“We admit that eventually we’ll have to depart from Channel 3. But this is coming earlier than expected because Exact Scenario’s contract with Bangkok Entertainment Company, the operator of Channel 3, is supposed to be revised annually,” Surapol Perapongpipath, managing director of GMM One TV Trading, an affiliate of Exact Scenario, said last week.
“The Red Carpet” variety programme that shows every Thursday night was going to be pulled from the channel next month, followed by “Heng Heng Heng” in July and another sitcom, “Pu Kong Jao Sanae”, in September.
“Heng Heng Heng” is a situation comedy airing every Saturday morning, while “Pu Kong Jao Sanae” is screened every Sunday morning.
Channel 3 wants to boost audience ratings with new shows amid the expected fierce rivalry among all 24 digital terrestrial TV operators.
GMM One TV trading now operates the “One” digital TV channel in high definition while Exact Scenario produces TV shows for other analog TV channels such as Channel 3, the Army’s TV5 and MCOT’s Modernine TV.
Led by Thakonkiat Veerawan, both companies are subsidiaries of music and entertainment powerhouse GMM Grammy.
Both Channel 3 and One appear to target the same audience, particularly in urban areas.
The company was also considering shifting its “Baan Nee Mee Ruk” sitcom from Modernine TV to One.
“Even though we’re bringing those TV programmes back to our new broadcasting home, the company is still facing an opportunity loss of about Bt20 million a month,” he said.
The billing rates at One are much lower than Channel 3’s for the same time slots.
The company is seeking other revenue from distributing broadcast rights for its own productions and soap operas to overseas broadcasters and video streaming providers.
This diversification is expected to bring in Bt30 million-Bt40 million this year.
The firm might revise its Bt1.5-billion revenue target for One following those changes.
