Print advertising in the company's newspapers has increased, while television operations will show a profit, said NMG vice chairman Thanachai Santichaikul.

The number of television programmes produced by NMG and broadcast on several channels has increased this year and will boost the company's advertising revenues, he said.

Signing a contract with Samart to deliver the Nation Channel through its satellite will be good thing for the company in the future, in case it must raise advertising rates, said Thanachai.

"This year, we believe the Nation Channel will make a profit after efforts to control costs, an internal organisational restructuring conducted last year and 211 minutes of air time through television programmes aired on free-TV channels. This will boost our advertising revenues. Besides, it is likely that Kom Chad Luek newspaper will raise its price, but we'll have to wait for Thai Rath to do the same," he said.

A joint venture with Kyodo Printing, Kyodo Nation Printing Service is expected to generate Bt400 million in revenues, and NMG will realise Bt200 million from the newly established firm.

Thanachai estimated that NMG's total revenues this year will stand at Bt700 million to Bt800 million.

"We are still concerned about the political factor, so we'll manage conservatively," he said. "In case economic conditions in the first quarter remain in the doldrums, we may lower our revenue projection."

Siriporn Chanjindamanee

The Nation