The sweet taste of success

New satellite TV Apple Channel is out to make a difference by transforming content from four Click VR1 radio stations of into TV programme format to air on its free-to-play channel.

“Satellite TV is a trendy mode of entertainment and is much more competitive these days. Some leading advertising agencies are now paying attention to satellite TV in addition to free TV. It’s a very interesting medium,” says Wasanapong Wichaiya, managing director of the radio company. “It’s variety with edutainment.

“We transform our content from four radio stations – FM 101 RR One, Get 102.5, 103.5FM One and 104.5 Fat Radio – which targets teenagers and adults and covers several music styles from indie, easy-listening and Western music, to hard news, fortune telling, concerts, music videos and movies. 

For the movie content, we present indie movies, award-wining movies and house movies in collaboration with Sahamongkol Film as well as Japan films such as ‘Always’. We also have Japanese cartoons like ‘Gundam’, ‘Taiga Masuku’ [Tiger Mask] and ‘Kureyon Shinchan’ [Crayon Shin-chan], which are suitable for the family,” he adds. “If you don’t enjoy free TV, Apple Channel is an alternative.”

Wasanapong, who has a great deal of experience in TV programmes and live shows from his days with Smile TV, Thai Sky, and Channel [V], is working with a professional production team that is composed of film directors and the scriptwriter from the sitcom “Pen Tor”.

Among the fare viewers of Apple Channel can sample is “Restaurants to Try Before You Die” by Ball Jarurak, “Go Wear” by Ratchawin “Koy” Wongviriya and Ramita “Gypso” Mahaprukpong, “Fast Fest” by DJ Palm with actresses Patteera “Orn” Sarutipongpokin and Gypso, “Die Hard Project” by bassist Song of Paradox, “Jia Pa Bor”, a sitcom comedy by Buddha Bless, “Nong Nat with Sex” by sexy model Ketsarin “Nat” Chalermpol, and international talk by Uttsada Panichkul.

“Our advantage is making live shows, which make it easier to be interactive with the audience. We believe this will expand the number of viewers,” he says. “Live music such as Fat Fest from 104.5 Fat Radio will reach your home on TV too.”

With its budget of Bt100 million, Apple Channel now features a fifty-fifty mix of self-produced and purchased programming, with self production expected to increase to 70 per cent in the near future.

The channel’s recent launch event at Crystal Design Centre was studded with celebrities, businessmen and politicians, among them Admiral Pajun Traprateep, Sudarat Keyuraphan, Ratana Osathanugrah, president of Osotspa, Sant Bhirombhakdi, group director for Singha Corporation’s non-alcohol marketing department, Uttsada, Ratchawin, Chanyasorn Sakornchan, Yuthana Thuwapradit and Sakol Tiacharoen.

“Our way of working on satellite TV is the same as our radio station; we check our quality minute by minute,” says Wasanapong.

 

 

        Get a bite of this

_ You can view Apple Channel with C-band system or online at www.SmartClick.co.th/apple

_ Follow its movement at www.AppleChannel.tv, AppleChannelTube on YouTube and AppleChannel on Facebook.