Cable operators get a boost from leading content providers
TRUEVISIONS and four leading content providers are backing the Assembly of Cable Operators, a coalition of 203 independent cable TV operators, by providing both exclusive and non-exclusive TV programmes to attract new subscribers and retain existing custo
Competition in the Bt12.12 billion pay-TV market is expected to heat up after the entry of heavyweights like CTH and GMM Z last year.
In line with the conversion from analog to digital cable TV, the ACO has signed an agreement with True Visions, Triple T Networks, Next Step, San Suk Network and RS.
Nuttachai Arksorndit, ACO vice president, said yesterday that under this agreement, the ACO would offer a Super Pack with 140 TV channels, of which 61 were from its new partners and the rest from free-to-air stations.
TrueVisions is contributing 37 exclusive channels such as True Asian Series, True 10 and True X-Zyte. Triple T Networks is offering 15 channels, Next Step six channels, San Suk Network two channels and RS its Sun Channel.
The monthly subscription fee would remain the same, about Bt300-Bt350, for existing customers of the ACO’s cable TV operators, but they need to exchange their analog set-top box for a digital box.
The new package is expected to help increase subscribers by 10 per cent from over 600,000 by next year.
The ACO was also in talks with GMM Grammy, the country’s leading music and entertainment giant, on adding at least 40 exclusive channels as an extra package. The deal is expected to be sealed soon.
Besides emphasising quality content, the ACO is also migrating its customers from analog to digital cable TV so that they can enjoy high-quality broadcasts and contents such as new digital terrestrial TV channels and high-definition service.
In three years, the full transition to digital cable TV would cost about Bt10 billion.
Anat Mekpaiboonvatana, managing director of TrueVisions, said his company would provide technical support to members of the ACO.
