Thailand’s MCOT Launches Broadband TV

[george]

Thailand’s MCOT launches broadband TV

Thai TV broadcaster MCOT has launched broadband TV with a goal of signing up 100,000 viewers by the end of 2011, reports the Bangkok Post.

The company and partner Playwork Co, a telecoms systems provider, have co-invested around THB500 million (USD16 million) to add new equipment, content and servers to provide Ving Broadband TV, enabling viewers to watch up to 1,000 channels through a high speed internet connection.

According to the companies involved, customers will require a USB dongle, router and set-top box with monthly subscription fees starting from around THB700, with services including interactive applications.

A full official launch of the IPTV service is scheduled for February 2011, with MCOT aiming to earn at least THB100 million from Ving TV in the first year of the venture.

Previously, MCOT had set a budget of THB500 million for developing new media businesses. However, the budget may be revised upward in 2011. The company also revealed its plan to turn its analogue channel Modern Nine TV into a digital channel starting next year. This project will take two to three years to complete.

Source: http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=35644

[george]

MCOT, Playwork to launch wireless broadband content in February

By Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation

MCOT and its technology partner Playwork will jointly make an official launch of the Ving TV wireless broadband subscription television service in February as part of MCOT's new media business development.

MCOT president Tanawat Wansom said the service conservatively targeted 100,000 subscribers in the first year with revenue of about Bt100 million during the period.

MCOT, which spent about Bt500 million developing the service, expects it to break even within three years. Revenue will mainly come from monthly fees, but Tanawat declined to provide more details.

The service will use MCOT's 2.5-gigahertz broadband spectrum to air content ranging from free TV channels to premium and on-demand content. Tanawat said the service did not violate the new Frequency Allocation Law as MCOT operated the spectrum on its own.

The new law stipulates that holders of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission licences must operate their own spectra to provide service, and not through third parties.

Subscribers can view Ving TV content on digital devices, which need an MCOT USB dongle to access the service. If they want to watch the content on TV, they need to have an MCOT set-top box.

The two partners test-launched the service previously.

Tanawat said the service targeted everyone, from students to office workers, and would cash in on the fast growth of multimedia devices in Thailand.

Next year, MCOT will also test digital TV broadcasting, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-29

[selftaopath]

Will this be available in "the sticks"?

[Bagwan]

Will this be available in "the sticks"?

Hope springs eternal. If it is any indication several committees are working on it.

[george]

MCOT's 2.5-gigahertz broadband spectrum

Anyone know what this frequency currently are used for?

[asiawatcher]

Let us know in two or three years and we can evaluate the technology then. This at a guess, will be way outdated by the time it is implemented.

[bangon04]

up to 1000 channels of what? apart from cartoon-like soap operas and adverts for whitening creams?

[phiphidon]

MCOT's 2.5-gigahertz broadband spectrum

Anyone know what this frequency currently are used for?

When the NTC were going to auction off frequencies for 3G it was stated that there was only 40MHz bandwith left in the 2.5GBHz spectrum. At the time (June 2010) it was stated that NTC were going to auction of 30MHz of the available 40MHz to provide low cost wireless broadband internet regionally ( but a pilot scheme would be tried out in the following provinces Mae Hong Son, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Sa Kaeo and Pattani ).

And then the auctions collapsed and the NTC was made a lame duck.

However it looks like big business has won out and stuff the provinces, Bangkok can have 1000 channels of TV instead .Note that the Government still owns 70 odd percent of MCOT.

[jfchandler]

Looks like the web home page for this venture is located here:

http://www.vingworld.co.th/index.php

Here's an English translated version of one of their web pages: What is Ving?

And then, of course, the inevitable question:

Do you want to trust your television viewing future to these guys???

[bailly]

.

Edited December 30, 2010 by bailly

[bailly]

up to 1000 channels of what? apart from cartoon-like soap operas and adverts for whitening creams?

Don't forget the beloved panda channel!

[jfchandler]

I'd really like to see the "Skin Whitening Creams" channel... Maybe we can talk to them about adding one...

I say that after watching a soap opera with my wife tonight, wherein a younger Thai woman was fighting and wrestling on the floor with an older Thai woman... Probably went on for 10-15 minutes straight...

The older lady hit the younger one on the head with a heavy frying pan, as the younger one was trying to strangle her from behind with a rope... Then finally, the younger one got a gun from somewhere and shot the older one in the chest...

I can't wait for more exciting viewing in the same spirit... Especially in HD!

[rotary]

Looks like the web home page for this venture is located here:

http://www.vingworld.co.th/index.php

Here's an English translated version of one of their web pages: What is Ving?

And then, of course, the inevitable question:

Do you want to trust your television viewing future to these guys???

It could not be any worse than TURDVISION eh I mean TRUEVISION. LOL

[Haddo]

if this service has dedicated rather than contested bandwidth, as a traditional internet broadband channel would, then it could be more like a "broadcast" channel - ie the quality could be quite good. (and competition to True etc.)

Particularly if they use a modern codec such as Mpeg4 - it could even carry HD.

No mention of channels to be carried, but lets hope there'd be a good collection of international ones - particularly the ones that True refuse to carry - Al Jazeera English, Australia Network, Sky News, BBC Entertainment etc.

[jayjay0]

if this service has dedicated rather than contested bandwidth, as a traditional internet broadband channel would, then it could be more like a "broadcast" channel - ie the quality could be quite good. (and competition to True etc.)

Particularly if they use a modern codec such as Mpeg4 - it could even carry HD.

No mention of channels to be carried, but lets hope there'd be a good collection of international ones - particularly the ones that True refuse to carry - Al Jazeera English, Australia Network, Sky News, BBC Entertainment etc.

Good to see some one else calling BBC entertainment.LOL On a par only a little above Fox

Hoe about some of the discovery channels and the history channel.

And Bangkok be dam_n quick about perfecting it. We are in desperate need for a breath of life here in Chiang Mai.

[NormanW]

up to 1000 channels of what? apart from cartoon-like soap operas and adverts for whitening creams?

Maybe things like

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8

this to educate a few more people?

Health, wealth and happiness forever. :jap:

[jfchandler]

Remember the Springsteen song, something like... "58 channels and nothing on"

I'm afraid it will be the same, just multiplied to 1000 ... How many Panda channels can they do?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Bump....

Well, they now have plans and pricing...

http://www.vingworld.co.th/promotion/

But 10 months have passed since the original mention here, and not a word since then....

[DaamNaam]

<br />up to 1000 channels of what?  apart from cartoon-like soap operas and adverts for whitening creams?<br />

Instant noodles as well.

[Satcommlee]

2.5 GHz is a disaster! it won't work, can't work.. it's been tried under DVB-H in Europe but failed, so I'm guessing that they have now found someone to buy their old kit.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Maybe they'll be launching Ving TV right alongside 4G mobile data services....

[janverbeem]

Bump....

Well, they now have plans and pricing...

http://www.vingworld.co.th/promotion/

But 10 months have passed since the original mention here, and not a word since then....

You wouldn't have expected anything else would you?

Wait another 2-3 months and there will be a final announcement that Thailand will be the hub of broadband tv, then never to hear anything about the subject again.

[TAWP]

There is several launches of this types in the tubes, even if deadlines gets pushed as most first draft project docs are painfully unspecified and full of dream visions. But soon enough things will be operational (well, mid-year 2012 atleast) from several operators.