MCOT not likely to alter prime-time scheduling
MCOT will probably not make significant changes in its prime-time programming, in order to avoid harming its revenues, says its programming committee.
The body will submit the final draft for next year's programming to the board of directors for consideration today.
"The change will be only in non-prime time slots, because the committee wants to improve our programming at other times," said Kematat Paladesh, vice president for marketing.
"Similar to other television channels - which don't usually touch their prime-time programming, because that would hurt ad sales - our peak-time slot will not change. We will instead focus on reshuffling and improving our non-prime-time content," said Kematat.
He said MCOT's prime-time slot at Channel 9, which runs from 6.30-11pm, contributed almost 80 per cent of advertising revenues. Prime-time advertising runs Bt200,000 to Bt300,000 per minute.
He said MCOT news and documentaries would constitute more than 60 per cent of total programming at Channel 9, with entertainment sharing the rest.
MCOT yesterday announced its third-quarter total revenues had grown 47 per cent to Bt1.16 billion.
Television revenues jumped 61 per cent in the third quarter to Bt764 million, while revenues from its radio stations rose 43 per cent to Bt204 million.
"Our net profits in the third quarter grew 54 per cent to Bt390 million," said vice president Aranrat Youkong, who added that expenditure rose by only 29 per cent to Bt581 million.
MCOT's revenues in the first nine months of the year grew 30 per cent to Bt3.24 billion, while its net profit increased 38 per cent to Bt1.1 billion. MCOT shares yesterday closed at Bt27.75, down 75 satang.
An unnamed analyst said the station's outlook depended significantly on today's programming announcement.
"We're concerned about next year's programming, because it will show how large MCOT's revenue will be," said the analyst.
Despite indications of little change in the prime-time slot, MCOT staff still showed their defiance to acting president Pongsak Payakvichien and the new board.
They issued a statement yesterday vowing to wear black T-shirts to protest against Pongsak's possible connections to pro-democracy groups.
Yesterday, about 30 pro-democracy supporters came to MCOT headquarters and gave Pongsak flowers in support.
In the statement, staff said they were ready to talk with Pongsak, claiming they were not against all media reform but would oppose unilateral changes at MCOT.
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation
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