Mainly, of course, because a lot of people have likely lost their jobs, but also because it was Thailand’s only major broadcaster that wasn’t controlled by the state. The channel could, in theory, offer Thais independent news free of political influence.
Over the years since its 1995 launch, however, iTV had gone mass-market, dumbing down with a splurge of Thai dramas and quiz shows at the expense of the hard(ish)-hitting news and probing documentaries that were the channel’s defining traits. Nevertheless, the programming strategy paid off, and ratings soared. Now advertisers will have to look for alternatives to where they used to put (at iTV’s peak) 19 per cent of Thailand’s TV spend.
If it wasn’t for the eye-watering fine which the company allegedly owed the Government, iTV would have been a very attractive acquisition target. Accusations of corporate misdemeanours aside, the company was well run and, say observers, by thoroughly decent people.
Thankfully, advertisers and consumers still have a range of press and radio options for solid local news reporting in Thailand.
A worry is that other companies owned by Shin Corp — which is in turn owned by Singapore’s Temasek — will be next to fall under the boot of the Thai Government as it hurries to distance itself from ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
But, say observers, the closure of iTV is a very separate issue. As one source observes, “this is simply the work of a bunch of civil servants who have wanted their money back for a very long time”.
Is Nokia ready to part with incumbents?
In public, at least, BatesAsia president Jeffrey Yu remains bullish about his agency’s prospects in the ongoing Nokia pitch. But the shortlist for the review, including Wieden & Kennedy, Mother and BBH, indicates that the telco brand must be serious about improving creative standards, even if that means opting for the type of boutique/network arrangement that is proving increasingly popular in global client circles.
Meanwhile, some observers do not feel that WPP’s decision to enter JWT separately into the Nokia pitch as an encouraging sign for either Bates or Nokia’s other incumbent, Grey. And the absence of any key BatesAsia executives at the Finland briefing session is only likely to add a little more fuel to the fire.
