MCOT Moves On New Biz

MCOT president Tanawat Wansom, who was appointed in 2009, is committing the company to future growth initiatives.
 
MCOT, controlled by the Thai Ministry of Finance, recently reaffirmed its plans to invest B500 mil./US$15.2 mil. to launch five satellite channels on dominant pay-TV distribution platform TrueVisions (900,000 pay subs). The company already launched two channels last year and will launch another three in 2010.
 
About B200 mil. has been spent on the existing two channels, MCOT1 and ASEAN TV - the latter coincing with the regional summit held in Thailand last year. ASEAN TV has received B30 mil. from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote ASEAN activities. Another B300 mil. will be spent on three new satellite channels this year.
 
The company also plans to launch mobile TV services through a collaboration with Korea's SK Telecom, which has 2 mil. mobile TV users via subsidiary TU Media. Trials started in Bangkok last year. 
 
MCOT operates a FTA business with Modernine TV (formerly branded Channel 9) specializing in education and entertainment content. It also has more than 60 radio stations.
 
The FTA channel is fourth in terms of prime-time audience share behind Channel 7, BEC World's Channel 3 and Channel 5. Mr Tanawat has pledged to take the network to #3 in 2010 as it broadcasts more popular sitcoms. MCOT recently announced that amidst an improving economy it was raising ad rates for some of its key FTA dramas.