TrueVisions calls for help with piracy

[Len]

TrueVisions, Thailand's largest pay-TV operator, has urged the government to lend a helping hand to combat film piracy and illegal content on social media. 

Suphakit Vuntanadit, deputy group chief commercial officer of True Corporation, said he would like the government to help eradicate the pirated content operators that are ravaging the entertainment industry. "Although... 

"Although we have no major competitors in the industry, we still consider the elimination of piracy our priority," he said. "As the content from these operators increases, so should our efforts to filter it."

He added: "TrueVisions welcomes competitors who will help develop and increase the quality of the industry, but we take a hard line against illegal competitors." 

Mr Suphakit said he believed the pay TV business will remain lucrative, thanks to the expansion of the broadband internet user base, which will soon include every demographic category.

"Pay TV is different from over-the-top [OTT] platforms. Pay TV is designed for family or home usage, while OTT usually targets the younger generation," he said. 

"Thailand's pay-TV industry is still growing, but it is totally different from OTT platforms like Netflix, YouTube and Facebook as well as the country's digital TV operators, which are developing their own OTE Platforms."

After the closure of Cable Thai Holding last year, TrueVisions has been operating as the major player in the pay-TV industry. After the withdrawal of the HBO movie channels last year, Mr Suphakit admitted some of TrueVision's customers abandoned the service. 

But he said the company's services still feature Fox movie channels, a strong documentary selection, and the English Premiere League. 

Moving forward, TrueVisions will focus on localised content that is projected to have a greater emotional impact on viewers as well as developing more high-definition channels. 

The company plans to capitalise on the coming season for the English Premiere League and other European football leagues by launching promotional sales campaigns from July to September. The promotion will offer a 5,000 baht rebate on TrueVisions monthly packages for those with receipts for recently purchased TVs, tablets or smartphones. 

"TrueVisions expects the football season and its related promotions will increase its subscriptions to over 200,000 by the end of the fiscal year," said Mr Suphakit.