Strong Competition Remains For Thailand Digital Terrestrial TV Channel

Declining advertising spend and strong competition in Thailand saw the closure of seven digital terrestrial TV channels in 2019, leaving 19 channels to pursue shares of the same advertising pie and prompting DTT broadcasters to rethink their business models. Combined TV advertising revenues for tracked groups BEC World Public Co. Ltd., MCOT PCL, Mono Next PCL and Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited dropped 20.4% from 14.01 billion baht in 2018 to 11.15 billion baht in 2019.

Section 44 implementation

Following channel closures, the DTT platform hosts 15 commercial channels and four public channels covering public affairs, general entertainment and news. DTT initially launched in Thailand in 2014 with 24 channels. The following year, Thai TV ceased operations for channels LOCA TV and TV Pool after failing to make a second installment for the upfront digital channel…