Fox's Thai unit eyes 70% jump |in ad revenue
FOX International Channels Thailand (FIC) hopes for at least a 70-per-cent surge in advertising revenue after establishing a local production and sales team and expanding syndication of its broadcasting rights to digital television channels.
MR Rujayarak Abhakorn, FIC’s vice president for Thailand, said yesterday that the Bangkok-based unit had been assigned by the head office to manage a sales team and engage with local TV production houses for its seven pay-TV channels. They are Fox Thai, Fox Movie Premium, Star World, Fox Sports 3, Fox Sport HD, Channel V Thailand and Channel V HD.
With more involvement in locally produced programmes, Rujayarak said his company would be able to approach local sponsors and get them to advertise on its channels, which are available on the three main pay-TV platform operators TrueVisions, CTH and GMM Z. FIC Thailand is also coordinating with regional sales teams to manage regional clients. He said his company aimed to see about 70-80 per cent more advertising revenue than last year.
Currently, advertising revenue represents only 10 per cent of the Thai unit’s total income. Distribution to local pay-TV operators remains the largest source of revenue, at around 60-70 per cent, while the rest comes from syndication to both analog and digital free TV channels.
“The syndication of our broadcasting rights to sports, entertainment and films is anticipating positive growth due to the arrival of new players in the Thai broadcasting industry,” he said.
FIC Thailand yesterday announced it was awarding a two-year sub-licensing contract to Bangkok Media and Broadcasting to air Bundesliga soccer matches on its PPTV channel. Under this contract, PPTV will have right to broadcast 102 live free matches of the German soccer league’s new season, starting August 15.
Kematat Paladesh, president of Bangkok Media and Broadcasting, said this deal would help strengthen its market position as a premium soccer station after acquiring the rights from CTH to telecast 26 free-view matches of the Barclays Premier League’s upcoming |season.
