TV Burabha revamps to focus on global growth

The company expects revenue this year to reach Bt160 million, and Bt215 million next year.
The 13-year-old documentary producer recently restructured its organisation by adding three new business units, digital marketing, integrated marketing service and business development, on top of the existing units: content creation, media management and production.
As part of the change, Chanawat Vachanonda, who is highly experienced in international content distribution, is now group managing director.
Suthipong Thamawut, president of the company, said he wanted to put more focus on the production side of the business to meet international standards, while the general business operation and overseas expansion would be under the care of Chanawat.
“TV Burabha is a pioneer in Thai documentary filmmaking, creating its own original format shows with good storytelling to educate and share knowledge with audiences,” he added.
The company aims to utilise and maximise this unique asset to elevate its output to an international level via different business models.
“We now are seeking overseas partners for co-production, while preparing at least four new projects to be pitched for funds from potential overseas production houses. We want to work with major broadcasters in Asia and Europe to help distribute our finished programmes,” he said.
The company is participating in “Asian Side of the Doc Bangkok”, the first international documentary marketplace in Asia, which is running until November 3 Thursday at Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel. 
The event is one of the best platforms for the business, bringing together 40 documentary filmmakers and 100 investors. It is a spin-off from “Sunny Side of the Doc”, which takes place annually in France.
“Creepy Crawly Superfoods” was shortlisted among the six top projects at the event. The story features Thailand’s culinary heritage through the process of harvesting, cooking and serving locusts, giant spiders, termites, worms and many other creepy-crawlies.
After being shortlisted, Suthipong said his team would present this project to international networks and content distributors. Chanawat said overseas business would be a key driver for the company’s future, and it plans to work with local partners in Myanmar and Cambodia in the coming years.
Using this strategy, the company hopes that by next year, overseas activities will contribute 7-10 per cent of total revenue or Bt20 million, from about 0.5 per cent now.
However, he said the company continued to work with existing and new clients in the industry. It produced the “Thai Wildlife” documentary for Channel 7, while four new documentary series are due to be aired on Now 26 digital TV channel. 
It will also continue to work with Modernine TV with its signature programmes – docu-drama series “Kon Kon Kon” and “Leaping from the Box”.
Suthipong added that his team was also in talks with PPTV, 3SD and Thai PBS on projects that have not yet been finalised.