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Published on January 25, 2008

The company expects the show will boost sales by 5 per cent, or Bt750 million, to counter the economic slowdown.

Saithip Montrikul na Ayutthaya, GMM Media's chief executive officer, yesterday said the company's business would be constrained by an expected downturn in spending.

However, the group's business units are trying to boost sales with events such as the Show Biz tour, he said. This approach was successful last year in terms of tickets and VCD sales and the company plans to hold at least six major events, especially concerts, during the year.

The tour business run by A-Time Traveller has also had a good response. The company provides customised tour programmes to organisations in the private and government sectors.

Last year, GMM Media's radio operations generated Bt720 million in revenue, a 3-per-cent increase. Saithip said the company was doing better than the overall industry, which suffered a 3-per-cent drop in revenue to Bt5.4 billion.

However, she expects growth will be sluggish this year, with revenues in the range of plus or minus 5 per cent from last year.

Advertising spending this month has dropped due to economic uncertainty as well as companies' postponement of entertainment activities in remembrance of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana.

"Advertisers are not making long-term plans. Earlier, they planned six months ahead, but now they are only looking three months ahead at the most. Some are even taking a monthly approach. However, despite these circumstances, we are continuing to engage with them regarding our long-term plans. This strategy is still working for us," Saithip said.

She forecast that the radio industry would not see much change this year due to the lack of new investment, which she expects to begin to emerge once the broadcasting regulatory board is reshaped.

The Nation