Buyers Briefing: Palakorn Somsuwan, Bangkok Broadcasting & TV

Name: Palakorn Somsuwan

Title: managing director, Bangkok Broadcasting & TV Co.

Ahead of the ATF market in Singapore, TBI spoke to key buyers in the region about their acquisitions strategy

TBI: Describe the profile of the channel/service for which you are buying.

PS: We are the leading free TV station in Thailand, Channel 7 and Channel 7 HD, focusing on general entertainment for a mass audience. To suit the new lifestyles of audiences, we also offer websites and applications for people to follow our programs. The most popular programmes are our local dramas.

TBI: In terms of acquisitions, which distributors do you work with?

PS: In terms of acquisitions, we are open to any distributors. We work with US major studios, European companies, and Asian companies.

TBI: What is the mix of acquired and original content?

PS: Approximately 25 percent of the schedule is international programmes.

TBI: Do you acquire local format rights?

PS: Yes. Apart from finished shows, we have aired several local formats. Takeshi’s Castle Thailand, Iron Chef Thailand, Keep Your Light Shining Thailand, and The Money Drop Thailand are the most recent local formats on our channels.

TBI: What is the cycle when it comes to acquisitions – do you, for example, stock up on acquired shows at a certain time of year, or at a certain market?

PS: We do not have a cycle or specific market for acquisition. It depends on the content. The markets themselves are good opportunities for us to see our current distributors and meet newcomers.

TBI: What are you looking for at the moment in terms of acquired programmes?

PS: We do not want to limit ourselves, and so we are still open to any kind of content.

ATF 2014 Buyer Profiles

Devi Noviana, RCTI (Indonesia)

Airin Zainul, Media Prima (Malaysia)

Joy Olby-Tan, MediaCorp (Singapore)

Ieng Kimsreng, Cambodian Broadcasting Service