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Published on October 10, 2007

Operator Belink Media has run the channel for three years, and managing director Krisana Thanomsub yesterday said clients were cautious about their advertising spending.

Many had halved spending or demanded more for their money.

The company will broadcast content that is "different" from the mainstream, including broadcasting university-student contests via its channel and website. It sells ads on both.

It will use a public-relations company to increase awareness of the channel.

It has already broadcast a drawing contest and a battle of the bands. It will cover seven contests next year.

Krisana's other company, Organiser, arranges events for clients.

The U Channel has 40 programmes especially for university students. Content includes live news, talk, music television, campus life and material produced by students via the mahalaicity.com website.

It can be viewed at 12 universities with a total of 300,000 students.

Advertisers include mobile-phone networks, soft-drink and snack manufacturers, banks and energy companies.

Krisana expects revenue to increase 25 per cent to Bt40 million this year. Accumulated growth of the two companies has been 100 per cent over the past three years.

Next year, the company intends to increase audiences in Bangkok and upcountry by further integrating its Web and television content, offering "total solution" media products and broadening the distribution of content produced by students. It is talking with Channel 5 and Modernine.

Another website is in the pipeline, on which the company will spend Bt10 million. It will be a platform for budding university disc jockeys.