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Published on October 13, 2007

The company expects that next year revenues from cartoon series will exceed those from imported movies, which are currently facing serious limitations caused by faked VCD and DVD copies as well as the government's very strict censorship system.

Oraphan Monthichit, vice president for programme acquisition and distribution, said the company had made a major expansion of its cartoon software by entering into new media channels and businesses. Rose has imported cartoon animations and series for seven years.

The move is going beyond previous conventional channels in which cartoon animations would be supplied mainly through cinemas and home-entertainment VCDs and DVDs.

Since the beginning of the year the company has supplied its licensed TV series of Japanese superhero cartoons to TV Channel 5, broadcast on weekends at 7.30am and 8am.

"We have set our business vision to focus more on the imported cartoon animation business," said Oraphan. "We have plenty of cartoon content in hand and can create business benefits by leveraging cartoons through expansion into new media channels such as free and satellite TV and new businesses such as merchandising," said Oraphan.

"We are now discussing with Channel 5 about increasing airtime for our cartoon series, which could be broadcast on weekends between 8am and 9.30am. In addition, we are also negotiating with three to four operators of satellite TV for supplying our cartoon series to their channels. We aim to generate revenues of over Bt50 million from free and satellite TV next year," she said.

Oraphan said the contribution of cartoon animations to company revenues would increase gradually from only 40 per cent last year to 50 per cent this year, and up to 60 per cent in 2008.

"Next year, cartoon animations will exceed other software such as movies and local content, including comedy and Likay Thai classical performances," she said.

Oraphan added that the company was facing many limitations and difficulties for supplying imported movies to cinemas and home-entertainment VCDs and DVDs.

"Today, only big blockbusters can make money in screening at local theatres," she said. "We have been challenged by other serious problems, such as the strong violation of intellectual property with plenty of faked VCDs and DVDs on the market, as well as the very strict censorship system by local authorities," she said.

Oraphan said Rose had launched about 30 new cartoon series this year. This will rise to more than 50 titles next year.

She said that Rose currently owned all-rights licences, including merchandising, for many cartoon characters such as Naruto, Sonic-X, The Law of Ueki, Keroro, Justice Rizer, Rangers, Full Mental and Kekkaishi.

"We have divided our cartoon animations into three major segments: preschool, Japanese and Western animations. They are handled by different product managers," she said.

Rose Media & Entertainment officially opened its "Keroro Coming to Town" event yesterday at Central World. The event, which runs until tomorrow, will create awareness among Thai kids of Keroro cartoon characters.

Keroro roadshows will be held until the end of the year at many shopping malls throughout the Kingdom.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

 The Nation