True Visions Group Co., Ltd. is the largest provider of a cable television analog television (CAtv) and digital satellite television (DStv) in Thailand. TrueVisions is a subsidiary of the business division of True Corporation.
Prior to February 2007, the company was variously known as United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), United Television Cable Network (UTV) or International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).
History
International Broadcasting Corporation (1989 1998)
Before the establishment of IBC, Thailand had five television networks (3, 5, 7, 9, 11). The company was founded in 1985 with Thaksin Shinawatra presenting a proposal for a cable television project. The IBC project also had consultancy from American company Clearview International,
[ เชื่อมต่อความรู้ทั่วไทยด้วย IBC] who, in its assessment of a cable television service for
Tonga in 1983, was already planning something similar in Thailand.
The International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) was established by Thaksin Shinawatra at the time as chairperson of Shinawatra Computer Co., Ltd. and later enter partnership with Clearview Wireless. It was the first national cable TV provider since April 17, 1989. MCOT HD gave the IBC a twenty-year concession to a provide subscription television service. The IBC broadcasts its programs via super high frequency microwaves using MMDS.[Banerjee I. and Logan S. Asian Communication Handbook 2008 AMIC ]
It was the only Thai cable company until June 1990, when MCOT approved a second license to Siam Broadcasting Co, Ltd, which eventually became Thai Sky TV. In 1991, when it launched, IBC launched a channel entirely in Thai to compete.
In 1995, after approval for an expansion of coverage area, the IBC began its first DTH service.[Atkins W. The Politics of Southeast Asia's New Media Routledge ][Ayutthaya C. A Content Regulatory Framework of Thai Pay-TV Under Convergence Social Science Research Network. December 23, 2011] In 1997, the South AfricanDutch company, MultiChoice, bought a sixteen percent stake in the IBC.[Lewis G. Virtual Thailand: The Media and Cultural Politics in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore'' Routledge ] The IBC obtained most program content from the channels of other countries including HBO, CNN and ESPN.
UTV Cable Network (1993 1998)
UTV Cable Network was founded on October 2, 1992, to provide cable service of their own under TelecomAsia (now True Corporation).
In September 1995, UTV began a CATV service in the Bangkok metropolitan area. The service was provided on a hybrid fiber coaxial network. The cable technology allowed a number of channels to be offered with high-quality sound and pictures. It also provided a pay-per-view option. By 1997, the hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network reached about 800,000 homes.[ Thailand Finally gets "Real" Cable Variety November 27, 1995. Accessed January 17, 2017.] In 1997, UTV sold the cable infrastructure component of its business to its sister company, Asia Multimedia Company Limited. This allowed UTV to focus on content and service delivery to subscribers.
Merger with United Broadcasting Corporation (1998-2006)
In February 1998, after the onset of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the IBC is merged with UTV in order to decrease operational costs. The United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) was formed on July 1, 1998. The UBC later split into two companies: UBC PCL. which provided a pay-television service via the IBC's satellite transmission concession and UBC Cable Co., Ltd. which provided a pay-television service via UTV's cable concession.
Shin Corporation (formerly Shinawatra Computer Co., Ltd. and now Intouch Holdings) eventually gave their stakeholder on UBC in late 1998 and sell entirely to TelecomAsia (now True Corporation).
UBC-True (2006 2007)
In November 2005, True Corporation (True) bought a 30.59 percent stake in UBC from MIH Holdings. It launched a tender offer for the 221 million shares outstanding at 26.5 baht per share and delisted UBC from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
[ Thailand: True Corp set to take over UBC UCLA International. Accessed September 16, 2016.] UBC rebranded to "UBC-True" sometime in April 2006. UBC was delisted from SET on April 11, 2006.
[ True Corp has eye on free TV Nation Multimedia. Accessed September 16, 2016.]
On April 2, 2006, UBC-True announced that it would launch the documentary channels Explore 1, Explore 2, and Explore 3 in October 2006. UBC-True also announced the launch of entertainment channels, G-Square and UBC Preview, followed by two music channels, Majung TV and True Music.
TrueVisions (2007 present)
On January 24, 2007, UBC-True was re-branded as "TrueVisions" (at the time called TrueVisions UBC). It announced its purchase of exclusive rights to the
Premier League.
[ True Visions Scores Licence for Football Nation Multimedia Accessed September 17, 2016.]
On July 12, 2012, after a long battle about Copyright infringement (piracy), TrueVisions switched its content encryption system to VideoGuard. It also upgraded its video encryption from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4. This was used with the new HD set-top box launched in October 2011.[ Cracking the Code Nation Multimedia.]
In 2012, TrueVisions lost its bid for the 2013 2016 Premier League broadcast rights to a new company, CTH. In 2016, TrueVisions restored the Premier League contents through beIN Sports, the Qatar based sports network. After success negotiations, TrueVisions aired 6 beIN sports channels.[ TrueVisions to show Premier League games in Thailand Soccerex Accessed January 17, 2017.] However, TrueVisions won the rights to broadcast the Premier League in Thailand for three more seasons, from 2019 through 2022.
Subscribers
At the end of the 2008 financial year, TrueVisions had 799,837 subscribers (1,469,000 subscribers including FreeView).
The table below, charts the annual growth of TrueVisions' subscriber base (excluding TrueLife FreeView):
[ TrueVisions subscriber growth True Visions television.]
|
|
| 1998 | 301,309 |
| 1999 | 324,537 |
| 2000 | 380,956 |
| 2001 | 406,589 |
| 2002 | 437,845 |
| 2003 | 434,815 |
| 2004 | 457,542 |
| 2005 | 483,816 |
| 2006 | 558,860 |
| 2007 | 618,228 |
| 2008 | 799,837 |
Products
Personal Video Recording System
In July 2008, TrueVisions launched its PVR (Personal-Digital Video Recording) system. The TrueVisions PVR set-top box included a 140 GB hard drive for recording. It was sold separately with an extra monthly fee.
HD set-top box
In October 2011, TrueVisions launched an HD descrambler and all-in-one set-top box called "HD Plus" following the launch of its HDTV service. The HD Plus was manufactured by
Samsung and
Humax. HD Plus also has the PVR feature which recorded using an external
eSATAp hard drive. On September 22, 2014, the extra monthly fee for PVR was removed for customers with premium packages.
[ True Visions products True Visions corp][ TrueVisions allows Platinum, Gold subscribers to use free recording service National Multimedia news.]
High-definition channels
In November 2007, TrueVisions started testing its high definition (HD) broadcasts and its new HD PVR set-top box. The system was also demonstrated at the Bangkok ICT Expo.
[ TrueVisions rolls out HD TV in Phuket True corp. Accessed September 16, 2016] In 2010, TrueVisions offered customers with premium subscriptions three HD channels (HBO and two sports channels) for an extra payment. The original HD set-top box did not have a DVR function. In 2011, TrueVisions offered CATV customer eight new HD channels, and a new combined HD and PVR set-top box. This coincided with extension of fibre optic cable networks to some provincial areas.
[ TrueVisions in major expansion of HD services Nation Multimedia. Accessed September 16, 2016]
On July 16, 2012, TrueVisions expanded their HD offerings to seventeen channels, making all HD channels available to both DSTV and CATV subscribers.
[ TrueVisions to increase number of HD channels to 17 on July 16 Nation Multimedia. Accessed September 16, 2016] In September 2016, TrueVisions offered fifty-six HD channels.
3D broadcasts
In 2008, TrueVisions tested 3D broadcasts, showing short European-made vignettes filmed using the
Pulfrich effect. In 2009, segments of Academy Fantasia were broadcast live using the
Pulfrich effect.
[ TrueVisions Presents Top Reality Show "True Academy Fantasia 6" Airing in a New Timeslot for Families to Enjoy, Plus 3D Experience for the First Time in Thailand True corp. Accessed April 9, 2017] Since 2013, the True Film HD channel has aired selected movies in a Side-By-Side 3D format.
[ The 3D experience in your living room Nation Multimedia. Accessed April 9, 2017.]
4K UHD
On May 18, 2018, TrueVisions announced it will broadcast most of the 2018 FIFA World Cup live matches in UHD on a new dedicated 4K channel.
TrueID TV
The "TrueID TV" service offers more viewing options. Customers can view their subscribed channels (but not all channels) on any mobile device. Functions include "on demand" and "picture quality".
See also
External links
