More Tv's To The Thai People

[george]

Cheap TVs in pipeline

BANGKOK: Having received an enthusiastic public response to its low-cost housing, computer and insurance offerings, the government is thinking of making colour television sets its next budget product under its Ua-arthorn programme.

`TV Ua-arthorn' is the brainchild of the Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand (MCOT), which also has its eyes on the export market.

MCOT director Mingkwan Sangsuwan said manufacturers from Japan, South Korea and China had been approached about joint ventures with the state enterprise to produce the sets in Thailand.

The goal, he said, was to give low-income people a chance to own television sets to gain access to information.

The MCOT will handle marketing and distribution through a new unit headed by Niphon Naksompop, a former director of the Thai News Agency.

The proposal requires Finance Ministry approval.

The MCOT yesterday reported 1.963 billion baht in total revenue, while net profit increased 16% to 842 million in the financial year ending Sept 30.

Of the total revenue, 60% came from TV airtime sales, and the rest from by radio and the Thai News Agency.

--Bangkok Post 2003-11-13