CTH spends big to add top shows

CTH spends big to add top shows

Also splashing out for a Bangkok headquarters

Cable Thai Holding (CTH), the newly established cable TV firm, will spend an additional 10 billion baht to enhance its network and content this year, officially kicking off its pay TV service in June.

This year's investment budget will rise by 50% to 30 billion baht.

Chairman Wichai Thongtang said the greater investment will drive CTH into the top flight among cable TV operators with its consortium of more than 200 small operators. The increased budget will be used for network expansion and content purchases.

The contract problems with small cable TV operators have been resolved, and most have agreed to join the CTH network.

The 10 billion baht in additional spending will come from bank loans, as did the 1.4 billion previously obtained to buy the broadcast rights for English Premier League (EPL) football.

"Our back-up system has been finished and the cable TV service is ready to kick off, but we are waiting for the right time in June after the EPL rights at TrueVisions expire," said Mr Wichai.

CTH officially signed the EPL contract in London last week.

Mr Wichai said he met Rupert Murdoch while in London and that the Australian-American media mogul expressed interest in doing business with CTH in Thailand.

CTH has also acquired new content valued at 1 billion baht for five years of broadcasting but cannot reveal details until June 20.

Excluding EPL, content buys will total 2 billion baht this year.

In essence, CTH's 120 channels will be offered to each package subscriber, and an extra 100 channels will be added later including five channels for EPL.

The fee to watch 380 EPL matches will be lower than 1,000 baht a month.

To strengthen its operations, CTH is building a new headquarters in the Udomsuk area comprising an office tower and production building with five studios and control rooms. The cost will be 2 billion baht.

Chief executive Kittsanan Ngampatipong said CTH has already imported 1.5 million high-definition (HD) set-top boxes, with another 1.5 million to arrive next month for existing subscribers.

For new subscribers, CTH offers a HD set-top box for 1,800 baht, down from the regular price of 2,500 baht.

"In the first phase, we'll focus on our existing 3 million subscribers and football fans. After that, we'll attract new customers," said Mr Kittsanan.

He said aggressive marketing for CTH services will be introduced on June 20, with each package surprising the pay TV world.

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