Voice TV lays off 57 employees amid fierce competition
FIERCE competition in the digital terrestrial TV sector has claimed a new victim, Voice TV news station, where more than 50 positions are being cut as part of a restructuring plan and cost-management efforts.
According to an official statement signed by senior marketing director Payungsak Charnduayvidya, Voice TV is setting its sights on being a forefront cross-platform content provider, putting more focus on providing quality content through various platforms, particularly online media.
To increase its capacity in the fast-changing media industry, Voice TV has to change its business strategy as well as restructure its organisation, the statement said.
It therefore decided to lay off 57 employees ranging from management to frontline, effective on March 1.
However, affected staff will get full compensation under labour law, while the remaining 300 employees will be continually trained and supported, it added.
Voice TV might also reduce its own TV production by 55 per cent, while news production will be cut by 35 per cent to pave the way for outsourcing and cost management, a source said.
Intense competition is believed to be behind the company's retrenchment.
Makin Petplai was appointed as chief executive officer to steer the digital-TV station after it obtained a licence from the regulator.
However, after two years in operation and a series of marketing efforts, Voice TV is still ranked as hindmost player in the market, according to Nielsen Thailand data last month.
According to the Business Development Department, Voice TV suffered a loss of Bt310.12 million in 2014, after heavily investing in digital-TV business. Voice TV is owned by Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
