US-based Turner Ventures eyes slice of Thai broadcast market

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Turner eyes slice of Thai broadcast market
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- US-BASED TURNER Asia Pacific Ventures says it is seeking possible business opportunity in Thailand's over Bt70-billion TV broadcasting industry after the digital terrestrial TV is put in place, either through a partnership or joint venture.

Yesterday, it announced that it has formed "M Turner", a new 51: 49 joint venture with Major Kantana Broadcasting (MKB), which is a joint venture between film-maker M Picture and Kantana Group. The new company will operate "Boomerang" channel. This free-to-air TV channel for children will be available both via cable and satellite TV network, and will go on the air from August 14.

"Boomerang channel is the first step by the company for deeper penetration and collaboration in Thailand and the Southeast Asia region. Importantly, Thailand is the first country where the company is embarking with the Turner 3.0 strategy for this region, followed by Indonesia and the Philippines," Stephen Marcopoto, president of Turner International Asia Pacific, said yesterday.

The Southeast Asia region has a large population base with high media consumption.

Marcopoto added that media business in the Kingdom was dynamic while the change in pay-TV and the upcoming digital terrestrial TV broadcast presented a huge opportunity for both global production houses/distributors and local content producers.

"It is undeniable that we are facing fierce competition among international and local players in the market as a result of the change in broadcasting regulations and the number of newcomers," the president explained.

M Turner and its Boomerang channel is considered Turner's first deep collaboration with a local partner after the company entered the Kingdom in the 1990s. Turner Asia Pacific Venture is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific Inc. The company offers 36 branded channels, including CNN International, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Boomerang, HBO and HBO Hits HD.

Sunny Saha, senior vice president and managing director for Southeast Asia and Pacific, said that apart from providing those channels to pay-TV operators and TV broadcasters across the globe, Turner's subsidiaries also operate digital terrestrial TV channels in many countries like Chile and Spain.

Underlining the point, Turner's top executives said that their company was also seeking a possible way to cash in on the large opportunity presented by Thailand's move to the digital terrestrial TV era.

CIMB Securities has predicted that in the next three years, the TV broadcasting industry will reach more than Bt100 billion revenue, driven by the digital terrestrial TV business.

Siamrus Lauhasukkasame, managing director of MKB, said that his company was interested in joining the spectrum auction for a commercial digital terrestrial TV channel licence for variety programmes.

Local partnership remains a key for Turner. Apart from MKB and Kantana Group, the company has True Visions, the country's leading pay-TV operator, as a cornerstone partner. Meanwhile, the company recently launched Cartoonito on TOT's MeTV and Toonami channel on CTH, another leading pay-TV operator.

Marcopoto said that his company targeted to achieve double-digit year-on-year growth in revenue from Thailand and in the region. Currently, revenue from the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 20 per cent of total income.


-- The Nation 2013-08-01

[jaidam]

They might want to give William Monson a call first just to get some 1st hand info on how it works for farangs investing in Thai telecommunications under the Shin regime. They owe it to their shareholders if nothing else. Any sense and they will run away faster than Ben Johnson on drugs.

[newermonkey]

Lets hope that if this goes ahead, it might give the Thai people some more intelligent TV or perhaps they will cater down to the Thai taste which consists now of stupid soaps, comedy cafe and game shows.

[Payboy]

Are there really that many gesticulating newsreaders to go around?

[belg]

american style tv 100% here? no thank you

you will get 5 min of publicity and 5 min of your tv show

vely good fol attention sapaan

[Jingthing]

What could really be worse than Thai tv?

[animatic]

They might want to give William Monson a call first just to get some 1st hand info on how it works for farangs investing in Thai telecommunications under the Shin regime. They owe it to their shareholders if nothing else. Any sense and they will run away faster than Ben Johnson on drugs.

I'm sure they know all about Monson,

but Turner is MUCH, MUCH bigger than Monson on his best day.

[GentlemanJim]

Why any international company that size would contemplate a 51/49 business venture with that amount of money given the horrendous backstabbings that go on here is just beyond me. They must be frakking mad.

[kennedy]

Why any international company that size would contemplate a 51/49 business venture with that amount of money given the horrendous backstabbings that go on here is just beyond me. They must be frakking mad.

I've known the owner of MKB for over 14 yrs. His sister has run their operation in Los Angeles for over 20 yrs. He has good lawyers. I'd be careful running my mouth if I were you.

[Thai at Heart]

Why any international company that size would contemplate a 51/49 business venture with that amount of money given the horrendous backstabbings that go on here is just beyond me. They must be frakking mad.

Well, they sell a signal. No fair play, no signal. That would tend to keep the Thai side honest I would presume.

[Thai at Heart]

Why any international company that size would contemplate a 51/49 business venture with that amount of money given the horrendous backstabbings that go on here is just beyond me. They must be frakking mad.

Well, they sell a signal. No fair play, no signal. That would tend to keep the Thai side honest I would presume.

[Thai at Heart]

Why any international company that size would contemplate a 51/49 business venture with that amount of money given the horrendous backstabbings that go on here is just beyond me. They must be frakking mad.

Well, they sell a signal. No fair play, no signal. That would tend to keep the Thai side honest I would presume.

[zydeco]

This might be some good news for Thailand, especially for Kantana, which has seen much better days.

[GentlemanJim]

Why any international company that size would contemplate a 51/49 business venture with that amount of money given the horrendous backstabbings that go on here is just beyond me. They must be frakking mad.

I've known the owner of MKB for over 14 yrs. His sister has run their operation in Los Angeles for over 20 yrs. He has good lawyers. I'd be careful running my mouth if I were you.

I have said nothing defamatory or libelous, precedent has been set many times here concerning such partnerships, particularly in telecoms. I am glad to hear of the extensive business operation in the US. One assumes then that the company concerned will be fully aware of and must be compliant with Dodds-Frank etc. That should at least serve as some comfort to any potential investor here. Thank you for your advice but I doubt the chap is much interested in me, even if you have known him for some time.

[David Barker]

What could really be worse than Thai tv?

Spanish TV!!!!

[rotary]

What could really be worse than Thai tv?

CNN

[Roadman]

What could really be worse than Thai tv?

American TV?

Actually they belong together. A KIm Khadistan/Gordie Shore/Thai soap would be just the bees knees.

[EyesWideOpen]

They might want to give William Monson a call first just to get some 1st hand info on how it works for farangs investing in Thai telecommunications under the Shin regime. They owe it to their shareholders if nothing else. Any sense and they will run away faster than Ben Johnson on drugs.

Nice.....I had forgotten about that little tidbit about Thaksin and his " farang partner".... :-)