Matichon ups focus on digital media, TV production

 Managing director Thakoon Boonparn yesterday said that under his three-year strategy, the company hoped to drive revenue from digital media and TV production to 20 per cent of income by the end of 2018 – from 15 per cent currently.
 This would enable Matichon to compensate for the ongoing fall in printed business, he said.
 Revenue from digital media would mainly come from online advertising from its online publications like Khaosod, Matichon and Prachachat, as well as Matichon TV on YouTube, and from partners such as MSN Thailand, SpokeDark, Yaklai, Facebook Instant Articles, and Matichon News Station via AIS Live TV.
 Apart from a series of online activities, Thakoon added that Matichon aimed to be a leading content provider for digital-TV channels.
 The company will start by creating a news analysis programme for airing by Voice TV digital news channel next month, with another two financial and economics-oriented programmes expected to follow.
 Matichon switched to Voice TV news station after its exclusive news-production collaboration with Workpoint Entertainment came to an end last month.
 Workpoint decided to build its own news department as a key part of its strategy to boost TV ratings.
 “We are also in discussions with another four digital-TV stations, including Springnews TV, about providing TV content for them. The content will be developed from Matichon’s expertise, such as news/current affairs, culture, small and medium-sized business, and agriculture programmes,” he explained.
 Last year, Matichon became a content partner of Springnews Corp to produce cultural programmes for Spring Radio FM 98.5.
 Apart from local partners, Matichon has also joined forces with Vietnamese newspaper Thanh Nien Daily to explore further overseas opportunities.
 The company hopes to see positive business growth this year, the managing director added.