True focuses on boosting ad revenue

August 20, 2012 - Pay-TV operator TrueVisions expects high growth in combined advertising fees and sponsorship revenue, saying it could make up half of total revenue in the next few years - up from the present 12 per cent, following its partnership expansion to cover cable and satellite-TV operators to broaden its viewer base.

True Corp chief executive officer Suphachai Chearavanont said that TrueVisions changed its business model to focus more on boosting advertising revenue by expanding viewers via the partnership after previously relying mainly on monthly subscription fees. The latter currently contributes about 88 per cent of total revenue.

Late last week it forged a partnership with Cable Thai Holding (CTH) to expand its viewer base through CTH's more than 300 cable-TV operators in the provinces. Under the partnership, subscribers of CTH member companies will get free access to nine exclusive channels from TrueVisions, including True Explore, Travel Channel Thailand, Siam Sport TV, Star Soccer TV, True Sport International, and Speed Channel. The service will be launched next month.