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Media Studio merges two satellite TV channels [Bangkok Post, Thailand :: ](Bangkok Post (Thailand) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 31--Media Studio Co, the satellite TV arm of Channel 7's Bangkok Broadcasting Television Co, has merged its two satellite channels to reduce operation costs and compete with digital TV. The move is aimed at surviving fierce competition in the broadcasting industry. The merger will cut Media Studio's costs and strengthen its content, said managing director Supapan Wisaruetapa. The newly combined channel of the satellite channels, Media News and Media Channel (entertainment), will be relaunched tomorrow to focus mainly on variety content and target viewers in rural and urban upcountry areas. It will be known as Media Channel. Ms Supapan said Media Channel will feature reruns of Channel 7's soap operas, which have a strong mass viewer base in provincial areas. It is a very good way to use content from the parent company, she said. The channel will broadcast news content with flexible time slots and more updates than free TV channels in a bid to draw more viewers from the Bangkok area. "We aim to be among the top three satellite TV channels next year," said Ms Supapan. Media Studio has 300 staff and plans to retain them, so it aims to diversify to supply content for other digital channels with whom it is negotiating. This will be a new business area apart from operating the satellite TV channel and supplying content for Channel 7. Last year, the company generated revenue of 800 million baht from supplying news and soap operas to Channel 7. It is producing five news programmes and soap operas for the free channel. Media Studio has invested 100 million baht to transform its broadcasting equipment to support high-definition signals that will have high demand. Since the coup, the broadcasting landscape has been changing. All satellite free-to-air channels have had to change their status to pay-TV channels, which are allowed to carry advertising for only a maximum of six minutes per hour. Media Studio is optimistic that the National Council for Peace and Order's media policy will help to promote high-quality channels. Its satellite channel is set to grow its 2014 revenue by 20% to 190 million baht from 160 million last year. The Media Agency Association of Thailand predicts advertising spending on satellite channels will fall to 7 billion baht this year from 11 billion last year. Some advertisers will allocate their budgets to the 24 new digital channels because of their good ratings. If they want to survive in the business, satellite TV operators should focus on niche viewers in line with the marketing trend of segmentation, the association has suggested. Today's TV viewers are more selective and will choose to watch only channels that match their tastes. ___ (c)2014 Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at www.bangkokpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |