Ch3 officially ordered off cable/satellite

The written order follows the decision of its broadcasting committee on Monday on the matter.

Under NBTC rules, cable and satellite operators are allowed to carry only digital TV channels on their platforms, not analog ones. Channel 3’s programming is in the old analog format.

 

QUALITY SHOWS SOUGHT 

MCOT is counting on leading content producers to boost the audience ratings of its newly obtained digital TV channel for children’s and family programmes with quality shows. 

Nation International Edutainment, a subsidiary of Nation Multimedia Group, produces two children’s shows for the MCOT Family channel, “Kids Club” and “The Toy”. Other major production houses include Kantana Group, LH Movie, Cartoon Club and Super Jiew. 

Vipada Jatuyosporn, senior vice president for the television unit at MCOT, said MCOT Family with its newly revamped schedule was now ready to provide a variety of shows ranging from children’s news programmes and cartoons to TV series to encourage kids’ education and boost the ratings.

 

SET JOINS UN INITIATIVE

The Stock Exchange of Thailand has partnered with the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, becoming the first Asean exchange to join 12 other leading exchanges that have publicly committed to promoting sustainable practices. 

SET chairman Sathit Limpongpan said the Thai bourse in July signed a voluntary commitment with the UN SSE Initiative, committed to working with investors, companies and regulators to promote long-term sustainability through enhancing corporate transparency and performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues among the listed companies, and encouraging responsible long-term approaches to investment among investors. 

Next month, the SET will share its intention to take a proactive approach to sustainable development during the SSE Global Dialogue to be held by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Becoming the first exchange in Asean to join the SSE initiative reinforces our regional leadership and will enhance the SET’s international recognition,” Sathit said. “This follows the SET’s currently remarkable sustainable development in the region.” 

He noted that the Thai bourse had achieved the top ranking on the Asean corporate-governance scorecard for two years in a row (2013 and 2014), also chalking up Asia’s top score in last year’s “Corporate Governance – Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes” by the World Bank. 

“We therefore welcome this initiative, as it will allow us to share and learn the best practices with other exchanges,” Sathit said.

The UN SSE Initiative, founded in 2009, is co-organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, the UN Global Compact, and UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. 

 

MAI welcomes IT service provider CCN-Tech today 

The Market for Alternative Investment will list CCN-Tech on September 11|today under the ticker symbol CCN. |The company has a market capitalisation at its initial public offering of Bt287.5 million.

MAI president Prapan Charoenprawatt said CCN, the 10th new listing on the MAI this year, provides and distributes information technology and system integration services, system consultancy, design, installation, training, maintenance, and printer and computer leasing services. 

CCN has paid-up registered capital of Bt115 million, consisting |of 170 million existing common shares and 60 million newly issued shares, with a par value of Bt0.50. It sold the new shares to the general public via IPO at Bt1.25 from September 2-4 for a total of Bt75 million. Country Group Securities is its financial adviser and lead underwriter.

Virat Anurakputti, CCN’s managing director, said the proceeds of the fund-raising would be used for working capital to ensure financial flexibility and business expansions, resulting in strong and sustainable earnings growth eventually.

CCN’s three major shareholders after the IPO are Virat Anurakputti (22.58 per cent), Apisit Honglawan (17.89 per cent) and Dullapak Pengpanpat (16.81 per cent). 

 

 

Contenders invited for tourism awards 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is inviting tourism business operators nationwide to submit their products and services for the 10th Thailand Tourism Awards |next year. Submissions will be accepted from now until November 30, 2014. 

TAT says the Thailand Tourism Awards are part of its efforts to upgrade and enhance the standards of the Kingdom’s tourist destinations, to promote creativity, |encourage environmentally |friendly tourism practices, and |to ensure the Thai tourism and|hospitality industry’s competitiveness within Asean.

The awards are divided into five categories: tourist attractions; organisational bodies that have strongly supported and promoted Thai tourism; accommodation; health tourism; and travel programmes. 

Held every two years since 1996, next year’s awards are the 10th, so 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the event. The awards ceremony itself is to take place on September 27, 2015, which is also World Tourism Day. 

All winners will receive the Kinnaree image, a symbol that |guarantees the quality of their tourism products and services as well as adding value and prestige. 

Anyone working in the tourism industry or related businesses can find further details at tourismawards.tourismthailand.org or get an application from the TAT’s head office on Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok or at any regional TAT office.