Channel 3's door always open to Workpoint - the exit door

“Ching Roi Ching Larn, Sunshine Day”, the long-running game show produced by Workpoint Entertainment, is moving from Channel 3 to its own home channel, also called Workpoint, at the end of this month, but there’s no hard feelings, says Surin Krittiyaphongphun, executive vice president of Bangkok Entertainment Co, which runs Channel 3. 

“The move is quite logical since they also have their own digital TV channel now,” he says. “We also need to comply with the rules on digital TV, which bar station owners from producing programmes for other channels.” Channel 3 already has a show to fill the same timeslot each Sunday, but Surin’s keeping the details a secret for the time being. 

What really happened, according to an insider who we’re keeping secret, is that Workpoint planned to pull out the show at the beginning of next year and was hoping to stall that long while digital TV catches on with the viewing masses. The advertising rates for digital TV remain much lower than what’s paid for time on terrestrial TV. 

A commercial on Channel 3 costs Bt300,000 per minute, and it seemed unlikely that Workpoint would charge that much for digital time. But Positioning magazine says Workpoint has confirmed it will maintain the same fee rates on its channel, despite having much lower ratings than Channel 3, but it would also toss in some free ad time to sweeten the deal. In other words, there’ll be a “promotional package” for advertisers who follow Workpoint boss and show host Panya Nirankul’s “Ching Roi” to the Workpoint channel. 

As of last month the Workpoint Channel was third in the AGB Neilsen ratings, behind Channels 3 and 7, so it makes sense that Channel 3 would want Workpoint’s show gone, since it’s made by a direct competitor, and a formidable one at that.

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

Nose smells trouble

Has the military accomplished its mission of making you happy again? Or are you just laughing to mask your tears because this whole dictatorship stuff is so silly? Well, stay calm and blow your nose, because uber-comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich is back with another edition of his epic stand-up show.

The 11th edition will take the form of 15 shows from September 11 to 27. Mark July 11 on your calendar – that’s when ThaiTicketMajor unleashes the seats, and they’ll go very, very fast. 

The last edition of “Diew” was way back in March 2013, and Nose says he’s ready to rock again. It’s about time, because we distinctly remember him saying he wanted to make it an annual affair. Presumably he’s been too busy spending the Bt181 million he supposedly earned two years ago.

At least the wait has assured him of a wealth of fresh material, since the Army’s got that whole hilarious “return happiness to the people” thing going. Nose says he felt obliged to get back onstage to share in “these stressful times” with the good people of the land. “I will deliver what I promise – it won’t take long,” he snickers, quoting from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s theme song – “Rao ja tham tam sanya, kor wela eek mai nan”. 

So let’s see if a few pokes in the political ribs can held Nose break his own Bt181-million record. We sort of hope General Prayut doesn’t attend, though. Not only would it be terribly uncomfortable when Nose starts mocking the coup, but he’s apt to be invited to an Army base later for a little of the old attitude adjustment.