Just watched the final programme of a Thai TV Talent show similar to American Idol. The competition came down to two acts. The winner walked away with....wait for this......in a Country undergoing severe financial difficulty......TEN MILLION baht !! I could hardly believe my eyes and ears !! The second prizewinner got one million, so thats a cool ELEVEN million baht just given away to very moderately talented young singers!

Apparently, winners of American Idol dont get cash at all, they get free time in a studio and a guaranteed first album release, which eventually, possibly might lead to big money.

Now, I can see that sponsors pay the cash to fund this ridiculously large payout, The main sponsor of this event seemed to be True.....you know, the penny pinching company that provides us with a not very good satellite TV service !!

Is it the old Socialist leaning guy that I am that causes me to be a bit "dazed and confused" right now ??!

No more crazy than the reported 2.5 million baht a certain lady in office allegedly paid for a Clock ! to go in her office.

That is insane amount of money..You never know what to expect in this Country .

I hate to say it,....... but TIT!

200k british its not a lot really is it and all paid for by those who vote. Its called business run by the richest business family in thailand. Good luck to the

winners although id never watch something like this.

$300,000 usd is an insane amount f money?

More than 20.000.000 for a car license plate?

Is it the old Socialist leaning guy that I am that causes me to be a bit "dazed and confused" right now ??!

Yes...

It was on in the background whilst I was here. It was crap for 20m...............

It's not just Thailand. Doesn't that show give out tons of money in the US, which is 17 trillion USD in debt and printing money like a banana republic?

"Is it the old Socialist leaning guy that I am that causes me to be a bit "dazed and confused" right now ??!"

No, it's the old Socialist leaning guy that you are that causes you to be a bit "dazed and confused".

These kind of programs make millions all over the world.

For the Thai show to pay 11million is nothing compared to what they earn.

So stop, moaning and try to go with todays flow......as we young people do.

I am not sure how a government's debt or surplus of funds has much to do with a commercial venture. It True wants to pay that amount, they must have figured out that it will help the bottom line. It really has nothing to do with the government's financial situation.

Millions of people vote for the winner in multiple tounds by sending an sms to a special number which costs twice the normal amount. The extra income from this sms is shared between sponsors and phone company, a small portion goes as prize money to talented youngsters.

Those TV shows make the producers tons of money from the high number of viewers they get. The prize money is a pittance and it actually helps the bottom line because it's part of the excitement for the viewers and helps attract an audience.

Yes you socialists and uneducated who equate this somehow with the government, or who blatently off topic bring up the US (whose debt really isn't that much bigger than the UK's as a ratio of size of country and gdp, and is much smaller than Japan's) are dead wrong. This is capitalism at it's best with the little guy sharing in the profits he helped to generate.

How many other large corporations would share that much of the profits with the little guy?

Amazing thinking from the brainwashed.

Have you watched "Karaoke Killer" yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROVAS_HKwa4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I am a good singer,i my youth i was often called 'the golden voice',could i have a chance of reaping such riches,i mainly do slim Dusty,is he popular in Thailand,any one know?

That is insane amount of money..You never know what to expect in this Country .

Hi Kevvy,

Thats not true, always expect the unexpected.

Those of you that argue that the government money should be spent elsewhere.. are you really that stupid? This is tv! Come on guys. Please wake up! If a tv-show and their sponsors are willing to pay this prize for their tv-show it is because it is profitable.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

To those who think its not big money, give me some of yours... Seriously, 10 mil baht is 100 years pay for the average Thai person. DO the math.

To those who think its not big money, give me some of yours... Seriously, 10 mil baht is 100 years pay for the average Thai person. DO the math.

And spent in 2.

To those who think its not big money, give me some of yours... Seriously, 10 mil baht is 100 years pay for the average Thai person. DO the math.

Yes but this is not the average Thai, is he?

This is a business and it sells a product. With out the performers there is no product.

Two components are in play. One is proper compensation to attract a quality performer, and two , excitement to attract an audience.

A respectable payoff ads to the excitement level.

People don't watch shows like this to see a good singer, if that's what they wanted to do , there are plenty of shows with plenty of good singers. What they want is to see is a good performer, come from nowhere and do good for him/her self. It not only entertains but gives hope, people watching such shows, think, " hey that could be me" .

So the payoff has to be high enough accomplish the above goals, but not so high that it hurts the profit margin.

It is a very simple business model.

Don't see the problem.

They also pay 50 million euro's for a guy who's good in running after a ball and kicking it.

I am a good singer,i my youth i was often called 'the golden voice',could i have a chance of reaping such riches,i mainly do slim Dusty,is he popular in Thailand,any one know?

Slim Dusty popular in Thailand? Yes, I'm sure she is. You could apply for entry to the show, I'm sure they would snap you up.

Don't see the problem.

They also pay 50 million euro's for a guy who's good in running after a ball and kicking it.

Agree. And PGA golfers can win 30 mil baht for winning one golf tournament. And NFL/MLB/NBA players can make in excess of 600 mil baht per season. And some movie stars can make 750 mil baht for one movie. It's the free market that gets to decide how much to pay. Nothing to do with the government or the current economic situation.

SOcIalism is just horrible. It takes the life out of peeple! Why do you think the only thing FrenCH are famous for is cheeSe.........lol.

They might be recouping a lot of that at charging higher rates when people call/text to make their votes. Seeing as True is running both telephone and the TV network, its highly likely. I'm just thinking back to when UK shows were reaping profits from expensive calls for TV voting. (maybe they still are!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premium-rate_telephone_number

I am not sure how a government's debt or surplus of funds has much to do with a commercial venture. It True wants to pay that amount, they must have figured out that it will help the bottom line. It really has nothing to do with the government's financial situation.

Well, the total revenue from this show far outweighs this.

I am sure channel 3 owners made a hell of a lot more than 11 mm out of it.

This payment is probably their contract fee to sign away all their rights to the music they make, so that the producers make hundreds of millions if they are successful.

You think these kids won't feel.like chumps in 5 years when their 11 mn is long gone and their "owner" continues to count the cash?