Digital channels exporting quality content abroad

"We see huge opportunities in neighbouring countries, namely Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei and China, through cultural links. Apart from this, some TV broadcasters in those countries lack local content providers and talented artists, while their broadcasting technology has further developed," Ong-art Singlumpong, executive vice president of Channel 8, told The Nation yesterday.

Ong-art said that after securing a licence to run Channel 8, a variety station, his company witnessed an increase in requirements for content from foreign partners. RS, the parent company of Channel 8, has been in the entertainment business for more than three decades.

He added that audiences in those countries were familiar with Thai dramas and artists.

"So far, the company has sold 29 dramas produced from 2011 to this year, and the revenue from content distribution abroad is expected to be realised by the second quarter of next year," he said.

Channel 8’s dramas that have been sold abroad include "The Girl Next Door", "Modern Dharma", "Love Revenge", "Yaowarat Incident", "The Lady", "You May Kiss the Bride", "Love Tragedy", "The Boxer" and "Love/Lust/Anger".

GMM Grammy’s subsidiary Gmm Tai Hub is another example in this regard. GTH is also renowned as a quality TV-content producer. Many of its series have become talk of the town, such as "Hormone", "Stupid Cupid", "Thirteen Terrors", "Ugly Duckling" and "Stay". Those TV series are broadcast via GMM Grammy’s One and GMM 25 digital TV channels.

GTH chief executive officer Jina Osothsilp said her company was also exporting its shows to Asian markets – Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia.

For example, the romantic comedy series "Stupid Cupid" was sold to Cambodia, Vietnam, mainland China and Hong Kong, while "Hormone 1" was broadcast in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Meanwhile Workpoint Entertainment has created its own TV formats for export. Vichanee Srisawat, chief marketing officer, said that after selling the "Fan Pan Thae" game show to Los Angeles-based Smoke & Mirrors Creative and Octagon Entertainment in 2012, the company continued to distribute other formats like "The Band" to the US.

Vichanee added that "The Angel", a talent show hunting for flight attendants for sponsor Nok Air, was sold to a Yangon-based producer for a Myanmar edition.

Workpoint also exports its situation comedies and other TV series to broadcasters in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.