Cable Thai Holding (CTH), the newly established cable TV operator, has acquired the broadcast rights to 24 channels from FOX International Channels (FIC) to strengthen its content line-up.
Ward Platt (second left), president of FOX International Asia-Pacific and Middle East, discusses how to reach more audiences via partnership with CTH. Also present are CTH chairman Wichai Thongtang (second right) and CEO Krissanan Ngampatipong (right). THITI WANNAMONTHA
Krissanan Ngampatipong, CEO of CTH, said the additional channels will be launched in two phases. The first phase will go on air next month with 15 channels while nine other channels will be added later this year with highlights from FOX Movies Premium, Fox Family Movie and National Geographic.
The first 15 channels are Nat Geo Adventure (HD), Nat Geo Wild (HD), Nat Geo Music, FOX Action Movies, Star Chinese Movie, Channel M, FOX Thai, FOX Crime, FX HD, Star World, FOX Sport News, Channel V (HD), FOX News, Sky New (HD) and Baby TV.
CTH has invested 2 billion baht for 24 new channels from FOX under the 3-5 year contracts for content including adventure, Hollywood movies, Asian entertainment, general entertainment, music and news.
"Currently, we have English Premier League and the new content line-up will fulfil our goal to respond to every viewer segment particularly family audiences," Mr Krissanan said.
The 24 channels will be added in a basic package (120 channels) that everyone can watch at an affordable price of around 399 baht per month.
Currently, CTH has 2.5 million subscribers and aims to increase the figure to 3 million by the year-end.
Ward Platt, president of FIC Asia Pacific and Middle East, said CTH's pricing strategy will help its content distribution reach a wider audience. Moreover, the progressive network of CTH will support FIC's new content in HD format. FIC provides 35 channels in Asia.
FIC is committed to offering innovative technology for TV everywhere and will soon introduce an online service to allow viewers to watch replays of their favourite shows via mobile devices.
"Thailand is another key market for FOX. We will enhance and make more localised content for Thai viewers after we saw FOX Thailand successfully adjust some content to suit Thai tastes," Mr Platt said.
Presently, FIC has eight channels on the TrueVisions platform, a leading pay-TV operator. Last month, TrueVisions stopped airing Channel M, a Korean entertainment channel, and Star World highlighted US programmes such as American Idol, Glee and Grey's Anatomy.
Meanwhile, TrueVisions has directly bought US rights from the owners to distribute on its own channels such as American Idol season 12 on True 10, and Glee season 4 on True Series.
