Company's Business

MCOT Plc. has formulated the strategic objective aiming at increasing its competitiveness to be a mass media organization operating its business with efficiency, creativity, and successfully performs its media roles under the vision of “Sensibly Enable an Equal Access to Creative, Impartial and Timely Content to Audience”. The business structure to attain such vision is described below.

MCOT Plc. operated its television business under the analog broadcast system, which was the primary broadcasting technology since the first launch of television business in Thailand. The broadcast of the analog system was terminated in the mid of 2018. In 2014, MCOT Plc. has begun the digital terrestrial television broadcasting network services according to 2 licenses to operate commercial digital terrestrial TV channels at the national level comprising a High Definition (HD) variety and Standard Definition (SD) Family channels, for the period of 15 years from April 25, 2014 to April 24, 2029.

9 MCOT HD (Channel 30)

9 MCOT HD is a television channel in the DTT system for the type of high definition (HD), Channel 30. It is broadcast 24 hours daily through MCOT’s digital terrestrial TV network, transmitted to 39 relay stations and more than 129 supplementary stations, covering more than 22 million households or 70.40% of the population nationwide.

The Channel changed its logo identity and station name to be “9 MCOT HD”. Also, the slogan was changed in 2015 to be “See the World, Enjoy Happiness” in accordance with the increased competition in the digital terrestrial television industry where many channel operators try to capture working-class audience. These changes also responded to advertising buyers who have tended to buy the advertising time on any television channels focusing on teenage and working-age and young viewers. Those logos and slogans have been applied up to now.

MCOT revised 9 MCOT HD strategy by setting programming relevant to demographics of the audience in each time block, to increase competiveness and align with regulations of the NBTC. The program scheduling was also revised in relations to the audience’s changing behaviors as a result of digital media advancements that brought new options of viewing contents for consumers.

MCOT Plc. placed importance on arranging the program schedule and program formats in line with the Company’s business policy, channel contents, and corporate objectives. The program schedule has been arranged for specific audience in each broadcast period and for key audience of particular programs. The edutainment programs both produced by MCOT Plc. and external producers were added to be able to control the production and obtain rights in selling advertising air time for SPOT or Tie-in. MCOT Plc. also obtained the full ownership right in both content and formats to be broadcast in other digital platforms such as streaming and Line TV. In addition, finished programs were sold in foreign markets under an efficient cost management.

In addition, MCOT Plc. has increased the production of entertainment programs from 32.06% in 2019 to 36.87% in 2020. Most entertainment programs were Chinese series including Chinese fiction, historical period drama, or modern drama. For sport programs, it broadcast the 30th SEA Games, so the broadcast percentage of sport programs slightly increased from 3.69% to 4.87%. The overall broadcast programs and production patterns of 9 MCOT HD in 2019 were as follows:

In 2019, the programs operated by MCOT Plc. decreased from the year 2018 or from 82.02% to 78.36%, and the sharing programs also decreased from 10.42% to 8.39% due to the rising airtime from 7.50% to 13.24%.

Average broadcast proportion by production pattern

For news program, The Thai News Agency has shaped its news presentation style with a focus on promptness, comprehensiveness, and accuracy in forms of general news, news documentaries, interviews with persons related to hot news, live news reports and special scoops covering both headline news and current issues. The production of news program and situation report has been refreshed. News scoops and news footage in different views have been created by using the new shooting equipment, e.g. objective camera, action camera, and drone in order to produce bird-eye-view footages in different perspectives. Social media has been more utilized to present the special news reports. The international news produced by leading and internationally-accepted news agencies has been presented so that the viewers would be able to keep updated with situations around the world. The Thai News Agency has also assigned the news reporting team to various countries to report any interesting news to Thai people. Besides, Sure and Share Center was established to verify news on the online media.

Moreover, several in-house programs produced by Nine Entertain Business Department have been popular, and have generated more revenues consistently such as Nine Entertain program broadcast on Monday-Friday at 11.30 – 12.00 hrs, Tok Mun Bun Teung broadcast on Monday-Friday at 16.15 – 17.00 hrs, etc. The programs’ strengths lie in its presentation styles focusing on informative, creative and impartial entertainment and edutainment reports. The program production is based on MCOT Plc.’s full capacity and technologies to ensure the most up-to-date contents delivered to viewers promptly. Moreover, MCOT Plc. is the leader of entertainment news coverage and constantly provokes hot issues to the public’s eye. MCOT Plc. also used mobile satellite broadcast equipment for live reporting of entertainment news for prompt and convenient viewing. In addition, MCOT Plc. has expanded the viewer base to new generation of viewers via www.nineentertain.tv and www.facebook.com/9entertain. The clips have been published broadcast via www.youtube.com and www.facebook.com/9entertain that receives more than 4.3 million likes higher than last year. This deemed the entertainment news is most viewed on the social media.

MCOT Family Channel (Channel 14)

MCOT Family is a standard definition (SD) in DTT system on Channel 14 in the category of children, youth and family. This channel is positioned to be a channel that produces and presents creative, programs with joy, useful contents, and inspiration for children, youth, and family. The programs presented on MCOT FAMILY are suitable for general families. In 2018, this channel expanded the audience base to target some women, housewives and elderly.

In 2019, MCOT Plc. has revamped the program scheduling on MCOT Family Channel 14 to be suitable for every family member all the day. The programs included the cartoon, contents, and program advertising various products and the viewers could promptly purchase any products on the screen.

The program scheduling was arranged more suitably and precisely for viewers as follows:

Morning session on 06.00 – 08.00 hrs. and evening session on 16.30 – 18.00 hrs. – Programs for children

Late in the morning – afternoon session on 08.00 – 17.00 hrs. – Programs for female viewers, housewives, health programs, and product presentation program

Night session on 20.00 – 20.15 hr. – Thai royal news. On 20-15 – 21.00 hrs. – Programs suitable for every family member such as foreign series.

In 2019, the program proportion of MCOT Family Channel was as follows:

However, the crucial competition of the digital television business caused the digital television operators to return 7 digital television licenses; this included 14 MCOT Family Channel. As a result, MCOT Plc. stopped the broadcast of this channel on September 16, 2019.

MCOT Plc. fully operates the entire structure of radio business, including production, marketing and management. Under the slogan “Modern Voice for Knowledge-Based Society,” MCOT Radio Network broadcasts a wide variety of informative and entertaining radio programs carefully designed to educate and improve the quality of life of the listeners, and to offer public services to local communities and society at large under an image of modern radio station network. The network consists of 62 central and regional radio stations broadcasting in FM and AM frequencies. Bangkok is the base station of the central area broadcasting through 9 radio stations-7 FM and 2 AM stations-covering service areas in Bangkok and vicinity. The other 53 FM radio stations are located in provinces across the country covering 92.4% of the national area. The population in the target service areas is 93.8%.

Apart from traditional radio broadcast, the network airs its live and rerun on other platforms such as www.mcot.net and smartphone applications by integrating with the Social Network, YouTube, and Facebook.

The Order No. 76/2559 by Head of the National Council for Peace and Order regarding Measures for Promoting Business Operation of Radio Broadcast, Television and Telecommunication for Public Interest defines that the government entities, state enterprises or government agencies, which have operated the broadcast business in accordance with the Broadcasting and Television Business Operations Act of 2008 that have possessed the spectrum in accordance with the Act on Organization for Allocation of Frequencies and Supervision of Broadcasting and Telecommunications Business B.E. 2553 retain the rights in the operation of radio broadcast, and the spectrum possession shall be under the same scope and rights; this enabled the Company to continue its radio broadcast service using the same frequencies for another 5 years.

Centralradio stations Each MCOT radio station formulates its position and specific target audiences explicitly. The production and presentation formats or format station of each are as follows:

• FM 95 MHz-“Maha Nakhon Family Look Thung Maha Nakhon”: (Country Music in the City): The station presents Thai country music in a new light, feeding a variety of knowledge and contents. The station was ranked No. 1 most popular radio station across the whole range of target groups for all ages and genders. The programs are hosted by new generations who are young, modern, well-recognized, informative, and warm. The service areas extend from Bangkok and suburban areas to other provinces around the country via satellite broadcast to MCOT regional radio networks. From constant operational improvements in terms of program and presentation formats and marketing activity designs to raise the station’s popularity and maintain target audience base, this station has been ranked No. 1 on the Top 40 chart of Bangkok’s most popular radio stations.
• FM 96.5 MHz-“Kluen Kwam Kid”: In-Depth Contents, Profound Thought: The leading thinking media station that has been acceptable and reliable among leaders in every field on every platform. The station is a center that gathers over 100 leading thinkers with different expertise to analyze all important circumstances in politics, economy, society, foreign affairs, technology, and even health under the concept of “Power of Thinkers, Power of Creativity to Unlimited Communications”.
• FM 97.5 MHz-“Mellow 97.5 FM”: Easy listening radio station for working-age listeners under the concept of “Good Mood Music & Work-Life Balance”. This station was officially launched on June 23, 2017. It has created all types of contents for working-age listeners to create a balance between life and work while the listeners could relax with music and pleasant atmosphere to reach the life success and more efficient working.
• FM 99.0 MHz-“Active Radio”: This strong Thailand radio station presents useful programs on sports, tourism, health and recreation under a concept of promoting physical and mental well-being of Thais, and happiness in recreation activities. Featuring sports and health FM 99.0 MHz has been very popular among those who love sports and live a healthy life.
• FM 100.5 MHz - “News Network”: A top news radio station well-known for its prompt, comprehensive and in-depth news reports and analyses, produced by professional teams from the Thai News Agency. This station is also the host station that broadcasts breaking news broadcast at the top of the hour on all MCOT radio stations nationwide. From constant improvements on operation, the station has been ranked no. 1 or 2 in the same category.
• FM 107 MHz-“MET 107”: An international music station broadcasting newly released and hot hit music in conjunction with hip and trendy lifestyles under the slogan, “For Life and Music”. The contents are presented in both Thai and English languages. It also broadcasts headline news contents from several global news agencies such as BBC, VOA, Radio Australia, and OANA. In 2017, FM 107 MHz “MET 107” has been ranked the top station among other 5 stations in the same category.
• AM 1143-“Kluen Puen Ruam Tang” (Travel Companion): The station’s daily broadcast focuses on knowledge, useful information, news updates and food for thoughts for general audiences. Some of the highlights are knowledge and inspiring ideas from the Philosophy of Sufficient Economy as well as moral and ethical guidelines for daily life.
• AM 1494-“Kluen Pleng Dee Mee Sara Koo Kam Kid Like Station”: The first radio station for aging society broadcast on both main and online media. It presents songs, art and culture, knowledge, and health and living to support the aging society in Thailand.

MCOT Local Radio Stations The regional radio networks produces programs for local radio stations. The production and presentation format is based on public and local interest. Each program contains both knowledge and entertainment (edutainment), and allows public participation. The programs may be categorized into 3 as follows:

1. Local Programs: Designed with local interest, such as “MCOT for Communities” “Voice of Thais”, which allow listeners to raise complaints or share views on their local problems.
2. National Network Programs: They included Good Morning ASEAN program broadcast every day on 07.00 – 07.30 hrs.; Kao Tan Kao program broadcast every day on 07.30 – 08.00 hrs.; Thieng Wan Tan Kao program broadcast every day on 12.00 – 12.30 hrs.; Krob Kruang Ruang Kao program broadcast every day on 18.05 – 18.45 hrs.; royal news broadcast every day on 20.00 – 20.03 hrs.; and Song Moom Kao program broadcast every day on 19.00 – 19.30 hrs. The news program of the Thai News Agency was also broadcast from the host station FM 100.5 MHz to every MCOT regional station across the country at the top of each hour.
3. Nationwide programs: A radio production project for simultaneous broadcasting nationwide to connect listeners around the country with various sources of news and information promptly and seamlessly. Four central host stations, which included FM 95 MHz “Maha Nakhon Family Look Thung”, FM 96.5 MHz “Kluen Kwam Kid”, FM 97.5 MHz “Mellow”, FM 99 MHz “Active Radio”, and FM 100.5 MHz “News Network”, to deliver the programs, news, contents, and entertainment issues through the satellite to all 53 radio stations of MCOT Plc. in various provinces.

• FM 95 MHz “LTM FM 95 MHz Look Thung Maha Nakhon”
  Monday – Sunday on 00.00 – 07.00 hrs. (Look Thung Maha Nakhon Super Station)
  Monday – Sunday on 19.30 – 20.00 hrs. (Maha Nakhon News Maha Nakhon Rob Tis)
  Monday – Friday on 22.00 – 00.00 hrs. (Look Thung Maha Nakhon Super Station)
  Saturday – Sunday on 22.00 – 00.00 (Sao-Athit Hit Pen Pises)
  Saturday on 08.00 – 12.00 hrs. (Sao-Athit Hit Pen Pises) and broadcast to another 22 stations
  Sunday on 08.30 – 12.00 hrs. (Sao-Athit Hit Pen Pises) and broadcast to another 22 stations
• FM 96.5 MHz “Kluen Kwam Kid”
  Monday – Sunday on 12.30 – 13.00 hrs. (Thinking Network)
• FM 99 MHz “Active Radio”
  Monday – Friday on 20.00 – 21.00 hrs. (Sports Variety)
  Saturday – Sunday on 20.00 – 22.00 hrs. (Soccer Live Report)
  Monday – Friday on 21.00 – 22.00 hrs. (Criticizing Thai Football)
• FM 100.5 MHz “News Network” Monday – Sunday on 07.00 – 07.30 hrs. (Good Morning ASEAN)
  Monday – Sunday on 07.30 – 08.00 (Gaw Tan Kao)
  Monday – Sunday on 12.00 – 12.30 hrs. (Thieng Wan Tan Kao)
  Sunday on 13.00 – 14.00 hrs. (Kaset Tuo Thai)
  Monday – Sunday on 18.00 – 18.45 hrs. (Krob Krueng Rueng Kao)
  Monday – Sunday on 20.00 – 20.03 hrs. (Royal News Reports)
  Monday – Friday on 19.00 – 19.30 hrs. (2 Moom Kao)
  Saturday on 19.00 – 19.30 hrs. (Tuo Thai ASEAN)
  Sunday on 19.00 – 19.30 hrs. (Tis Tang Kao)
  And 5-minute newsbreaks at the top of the hour, 13 breaks a day

Moreover, MCOT Plc. has initiated a cluster production format to create region-specific programs for local listeners. Cluster stations present local programs that are fresh and unique. The program popularity is added by producing a program by a local radio station, which would be broadcast in other local radio stations in the same region. Major station clusters are as follows:

• Upper North Cluster “Pued Ban Paeng Muang Chuame Witee ASEAN” (Welcome to the ASEAN Ways)
• Lower North Cluster “Nua Lang Sang Krasae” (Trendsetting by Lower Northerners)
• Upper North East Cluster “Kao Chuam Jai Thai Esan” (The Northeastern Connection)
• Lower North East Cluster “Chaay Tawan” (Sunrise in the Lower Northeast)
• Upper and Lower North East Cluster “Suk Tuk Kao” (Happy News)
• Central and East Cluster “Modern Green”
• Upper South Cluster “Dan Din Tin Tai”
• Lower South Cluster “La Pae Lae Tai” (Looking South)

The Thai News Agency is the Company’s center for production, collection, storage and dissemination of neutral, accurate, reliable and timely news and information based on professional standards. The contents are delivered through different media platforms operated by MCOT Plc., including television and radio, online digital media, social media and SMS via mobile phones, and news exchange with foreign alliances. The Agency is one of centers for sharing and distributing Thailand’s news to countries around the world.

Currently, The Thai News Agency offers an appropriate proportion of Thai and international news in forms of general report, news documentaries, interviews with persons related to spotlighted issues, live reports, and special scoops. The Thai News Agency has provincial offices located in four regions: Central and Eastern News Center, Northern News Center at Chiang Mai province, Northeastern News Center at Khon Khen province, and Southern News Center at Hat Yai District in Songkhla province.

The sources of international news presented were mainly from the world’s recognized and reliable news agencies such as Agence France Press (AFP), Associated Press(AP), APTN (Associated Press Television News), SNTV (Sport News Television), China Central Television (CCTV), Deutsche Welle (Germany),Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Reuters and Reuters TV.

In addition, the Thai News Agency is a member of ASIAVISION, a news agency of ABU (Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) and a network for exchanging TV news with 34 TV stations from 31 countries and territories. The network directly feeds news from country members for broadcasting in Thailand and vice versa. The Thai News Agency is also the partner of EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and ASBU (Arab States Broadcasting Union). The Thai News Agency is also a member of OANA (Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies), which provides direct news exchange among 44 members from 35 countries; therefore, various news are shared directly.

The International News Department of the Thai News Agency plays a major role in ASIAVISION, in terms of management and information sharing. The executive of the Thai News Agency has been selected the Chairman of ASIAVISION for 2 terms from Year 2005-2014. In 2019, the Thai News Agency was given the Best News Story of the Month or AVN Monthly Award in November.

Apart from international news alliances, the Thai News Agency has participated in the ASEAN Exchange and Cooperation project with news agencies in 9 ASEAN member countries, i.e. Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Negara Brunei Darussalam.

The Thai News Agency provides news services through various platforms as described below.

Television

Live news reporting programs produced by the Thai News Agency are:

• MCOT HD on Channel 30. News products were divided into main news programs, e.g. Lunch
  News, Evening News, and breaking news at the top of each hour with news bar provided for all of these main news programs. Other news programs included Chao Chuan Kui (Morning Talk), Ruang Plob Kum (News at Twilight), Kruk Kao Lao Praden (News Issue Talk), Ku Kao Sao Athit (News Duo on Weekend), Kub Kao Krob Pardon (All about News), Natee Long Toon (Investment Minute), Kao Dung Kam Wela (News Across Time), and Lok Lao Rang (News Talked by the World).
• MCOT Family SD on Channel 14 e.g. Koo Kao Lao Tunk Rueng (Duo News Talks).

Radio

1. Production of breaking news broadcast at the top of the hour on MCOT radio stations nationwide from 08.00 - 23.00 hrs.
2. Production of news programs for FM 100.5 MHz host station to be broadcast simultaneously nationwide. The programs included:
   • Kao Tan Kai broadcast daily from 07.30-8.00 hrs.
   • Sarup Kao Pak Tieng broadcast daily from 12.00-12.30 hrs.
   • Krob Kreung Rueng Kao broadcast daily from 18.25-19.00 hrs.
3. Production of Suen Aksorn program (Garden of Literary Works) for FM 100.5 MHz broadcast daily from 03.00-04.00 hrs. (The programs were recorded on CDs to be donated to the Foundation for the Blind) as part of the corporate social responsibility initiative of the local news unit.

Digital media, ee.g. online media (website), social media, Facebook, YouTube, Line, Instagram, and Twitter. Except the regular news presentation, Facebook Live program was also produced pursuant to each customer’s specific demand to increase revenue, e.g. Tam Ma Ha Ngern program.

The provision of Digital Terrestrial Television Network and Facility Services at National Level allows linkage system for transmitters or radio or television broadcast used for distributing public news and information or station programs, regardless of types of transmission media conducted media, frequency, spectrum, electromagnetic or others.

MCOT Plc. has installed equipment for providing DTT broadcasting services in the Second Generation Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting System (DVB-T2) in compliance with the NBTC’s notification. The DVB-T2 technology is widely selected by leading network providers overseas. The equipment for television signal transmission consists of devices for compressing and compiling audio, visual and data signals into one batch before transmitting it to the destination networks under DVB-T2 standard. These services necessarily require:

• Host stations consisting of SD/HD Encoder, Multiplexer, DVB-T2 Gateway, etc.
• Transmission equipment consisting of digital television signal transmitters and receivers from base stations.
• Signal connectors via satellite and fiber optic.

Such license creates business opportunities for MCOT Plc. as the sole mass communication business operator to provide fully integrated digital television services. This advantage becomes another revenue generating channel for MCOT Plc. The provision of digital television network services began in April 2014 with the service capacity for 6 Standard Definition channels and 2 High Definition channels. The number of channels and service rates must be revised when any channel operators select High Definition services. The target clients of MCOT Plc. are:

• Commercial DTT operators
• Public services DTT operators
• Community services DTT operators

Currently, MCOT Plc. provides its services for commercial DTT channels via the national digital terrestrial spectrum to the following operators:

1. High Definition television
   • MCOT Variety HD on Channel 30 operated by MCOT Plc.
   • Thai Rath TV on Channel 32 operated by Triple V Broadcast Co., Ltd.
2. Standard Definition television
   • MCOT Family on Channel 14 operated by MCOT Plc. Broadcast was terminated on September 16, 2019
   • Spring News on Channel 19 operated by Spring News Television Co., Ltd. Broadcast was terminated on August 15, 2019
   • Voice TV on Channel 21 operated by Voice TV Co., Ltd. Broadcast was terminated on September 1, 2019
   • Parliament TV on Channel 10 operated by The Secretariat of the House of Representatives (first broadcast on July 2014)/li>

MCOT Plc. has expanded its DTT network by installing the infrastructure on all 4 main stations, and the network in 39 main stations and 129 supplementary stations to cover 95.1% of total households from June 15, 2017 onward. This is in accordance with the requirements of the NBTC enable audience to view the programs via TV terrestrial television receiver with DVB-T2 installed inside (built-in Tuner) and via Set top Box.

Apart from the provision of infrastructure in such 4 main stations, MCOT Plc. has made additional investment in other equipment to provide its service in the digital network. MCOT Plc. has also planned to lease such infrastructure to other network service providers.

Satellite TV business in C band

• Thai Com 5 Satellite TV signal service in C-ban system: MCOT Plc. has used the remaining capacity (from Modernine TV broadcast) on Thaicom 5 C-band Global Beam, to provide the satellite TV rental services to other satellite TV operators who operate Free-to-Air services. The satellite signal covered more than 120 countries across the world in 4 continents, e.g. Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa (excluding America).

Digital media business

The digital media business of MCOT Plc. is designed for the production and dissemination of contents via all online platforms, including video, still image, sound, and articles for live and on-demand consumption. Therefore, the consumers are able to access to the digital media of MCOT Plc. everywhere and every time on websites and applications handled by MCOT Plc., and also via certain external platforms where MCOT Plc. disseminates its contents under the official accounts, e.g. YouTube, Facebook, LINE, Instagram, AIS Pay, Hooq.

MCOT creates and produces all types of contents, either live, streaming, video-on-demand, Podcast, and articles by using some tools to analyze the data consumption on all online platforms, and only interesting and hot issues will be selected. The content brands of MCOT Plc. are various and cover the consumers’ specific interest.

The digital platform service business of MCOT Plc. is to provide the platform service invested by MCOT Plc., which may be solely managed by itself or jointly undertaken with some alliances. There are two groups of platform service users: content producer; and content consumer. There are several types of platform service fee, e.g. revenue sharing, monthly service fee, or monthly membership fee, etc.

MCOT Academy

MCOT Academy is the mass media training institute of MCOT Plc. for generating revenues from non-broadcast businesses under the name of “MCOT Academy”. It has been equipped by a large group of qualified and experienced professionals as well as knowledge base in mass media, which are internal resources of MCOT Plc. MCOT Academy provides a wide range of mass media training courses designed for mass media professionals and other persons interested in mass media for their preparedness, knowledge acquisition, and professional skill development in mass media and other related fields. In addition, a spacial training program “Making the CEOs of Thailand” was designed to enhance branding and communication skills and experiences of participants, given by media professionals and branding experts. The participants were also provided an opportunity to pay a visit to successful organizations domestically and internationally. In 2019, “Making the CEOs of Thailand, Class 2”, was successfully organized and participated by executives from government and private sectors and well-known key speakers.

MCOT Talent Business of managing artists’ image and potential development

MCOT Talent Management is a core division responsible for managing its artists and developing their skills to create added values. This division also joins hands and gives support to other related internal agencies to generate revenues for MCOT Plc.

The artists under MCOT Plc. are required to be under management of MCOT Talent Management of Television Office. The artists are categorized as follows:

• News presenters of Thai News Agency – In 2019, there were 10 artists who generated revenues from working as news presenters of Thai News Agency, and MC for either internal or external agencies under the management of MCOT Talent Management, Television Office; and
• Program hosts – A group of artists who generated revenues from working as program hosts for any programs broadcast via 9 MCOT HD Channel 30, and for any events arranged by the internal organizations and other external organizations. There were 6 artists in this group under the management of the artist management division, the Television Office.

Intellectual Property Business

Business Development Office has operated a non-broadcast business in support of the Company’s program production and broadcast for the best business interest, e.g. intellectual property business. The tangible actions started in 2017 as described below:

• To gather all intellectual properties of MCOT Plc. together with its existing copyrights and industrial properties in forms of patent and trademark to add revenues for the Company’s business.
• To manage intellectual properties of MCOT Plc. through procuring, selling, leasing, exchanging, gathering, caring, and managing any privileges for the Company’s interest. In 2017, MCOT Plc. generated revenues from granting broadcast licenses of a documentary in honor of H.M. the King entitled “Terd Klao” to True4U Station Co., Ltd., and a documentary in honor of H.M. the King entitled “Nai Duang Jai Ni Run” to Phunyaphat Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Boomerang), the Government Housing Bank, Government Lottery Office, and Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. It was apparent that the establishment of the intellectual property strategy was essential in the current business competition allowing MCOT to generate more revenue.

In 2018, MCOT Plc. set up a working group in charge of assessing the value of the Company’s intellectual properties, managing those intellectual properties as protected by law, formulating the Company’s copyright and intellectual property policy to be a practice guideline mutually implemented by the Company’s employees, business partners, and alliances, shaping the policy and guideline of intellectual property assessment in the same direction, handling the data bank management system to be used as the Company’s central database, and utilizing such intellectual properties to generate higher revenues and business value for the Company. This working group also has duties of compiling, categorizing, selecting, and preparing the management process for contents, copyrights, and intellectual properties of MCOT Plc. for its systematic revenue development. MCOT Plc. prepared to distribute these intellectual properties in local and foreign markets.

Apart from actions undertaken under the guidelines of intellectual property management formulated by the working group for intellectual property assessment, the Business Development Office, in collaboration with the Television Office and Thai News Agency initiated the intellectual property development project by developing various footages, still image and animation under the copyright of MCOT Plc. in different styles to be distributed via online and offline platforms. This approach could generate revenues for MCOT Plc. in the future together with license granting to business partners, alliances, and agencies for the use of intellectual properties of MCOT Plc. subject to general and business objectives.

In 2019, MCOT Plc. in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand or SME D Bank initiated “SME D Digital Market Place” to jointly drive and develop the market, and broaden the trading opportunities for Thai SME entrepreneurs. This also helps develop and broaden the product distribution channels publicized through the television and integrated E-Commerce system. MCOT Plc. also signed an MOU with Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), which allows both organizations to integrate their knowledge base together for further business development and revenue earning.

Non-broadcast Business under Development for Revenue Earning

1. Business on 2600 MHz in MMDS system

   The 2600 MHz frequencies were allocated to MCOT Plc. by Post and Telegraph Department to provide the subscription television service in accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers in 1990. In this regard, MCOT Plc. and a private company have provided the said service. After the private company had terminated its subscription business, MCOT Plc. decided to manage and utilize this frequency by itself. The Company requested a permission to switch from the analog broadcast technology to the digital broadcast technology in the form of Broadband Wireless Access: BWA in line with technological changes.

   In 2010, MCOT Plc. executed a business contract on the subscription television service on MMDS with Playwork Co., Ltd. that had duties of managing and supplying the service system equipment such as membership management system, content management system, and system platform, etc. Playwork Co., Ltd. was also responsible for accounting, marketing, advertising, public relations, and sales promotion activities, as well as any other related or subsequent actions in providing the subscription television service on 2600 MHz in MMDS system. Upon the expiration of the contract, ownership in all facilities and equipment in the service system under this project would be transferred to MCOT Plc.

   Later, the NBTC sent a letter dated March 11, 2019 regarding the return of unused frequencies or use is not worth it or to use it for more worthwhile for the frequency bands of 2500-2690 MHz in the amount of 190 MHz from 3 following licensees:

   • MCOT (for frequency bands of 2636 – 2608 MHz and 2616 – 2690 MHz in the total of 146 MHz)
   • Royal Thai Army Signal Department
   • Directorate of Joint Communications, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters

   MCOT Plc. submitted a reply letter to the NBTC on June 10, 2019 to confirm the return of all frequencies, and MCOT Plc. would specify the expenses and opportunity cost to the Sub-committee. Up to now, MCOT Plc. has been waiting for the official consideration outcome for the compensation payment from the NBTC.

2. Property business

   Plots of land in Bangkok and other provinces under ownership of MCOT Plc. deem important investment assets for its long-term revenue generation. A 50-Rai plot of land at Wattanatham Road, Huay Kwang, Bangkok is considered to have a high potential. It is located in a new business zone, close to Thailand’s Cultural Center and the MRT orange line. Therefore, the unique selling point of this land is presented. MCOT Plc. has assigned Thammasat University Research and Consultancy Institute to be the Company’s consultant in conducting a feasibility study on the development of this land for more revenues under Private Investments in State Undertakings Act B.E. 2556. The market sounding and public hearing have also been carried out in order to obtain the mix-used development project guideline. The area would be divided into 3 zones: Zone A in an area of 20 Rai; Zone B in an area of 20 Rai; and Zone C in an area of 10 Rai. The management plan was as follows:

   Zone A and B – On process of selecting the investors, and the private company will run the project and lease the land from MCOT Plc.

   Zone C – MCOT Plc. in collaboration with Office of Knowledge Management and Development (Public Organization) (OKMD) for an establishment of the National Knowledge Center (NKC) to be in line with the human development under the National Strategy.

   However, such project is a mega and high-value project; therefore, it must be undertaken under the Private Investment in State Undertaking Act, B.E. 2556. The project has already started subject to the established procedure and it is expected that the invitation to investors would be announced by the first quarter of 2020.

Subsidiaries

Panorama Worldwide Company Limited

Panorama Worldwide Company Limited was established on November 21, 2003 as a subsidiary of MCOT Plc. who holds 49 % of the company’s total shares. The subsidiary is a producer and distributor of television programs and documentaries for local and international television stations, cable TV stations, satellite TV stations and digital TV stations. It also produces video and public relations materials for public and private sectors, and sells stock footages to documentaries producers in Thailand and abroad.

Panorama Worldwide has suffered the liquidity problem in its business operation as the revenues earned could not cover the expenses incurred, which would result to its business operation potential in the future. Therefore, the meeting of the Board of Directors of MCOT Plc., No. 2/2019 dated February 26, 2019 resolved to terminate the business operation of Panorama Worldwide and all existing obligations would be attained.

SeedMCOT Company Limited

SeedMCOT has operated all types of entertainment businesses, and advisory service, for example, the organization of concerts, stageplay, and fashion shows, the trading of cinema camera, Video recorder, cassette player and television materials transmitter (video), movie projector, slide projector, all types of films, and film editing equipment. The nature of business involves the production of radio programs in FM system (SEED 97.5 FM), the organization of concerts, the production of television programs, the production of music and other digital products, and other business operations. However, SEED MCOT Co., Ltd. has suffered a loss since 2014 and its situation worsened. Therefore, at the meeting of the Board of Directors, No. 16/2016 on November 22, 2016 passed the resolution to dissolve SEED MCOT Co., Ltd. (FM 97.5 MHz), a subsidiary of MCOT Plc., due to liquidity in business operation from sharp decline in revenues as a result of the change in radio listening behavior of the listeners. At present, it has been under the process of claiming refund for corporate income tax from the Revenue Department. For FM 97.5 MHz, MCOT Plc. has adapted its model to be suitable for the listeners’ current behavior for better operating efficiency under MCOT’s management.

Joint Operation Business

MCOT Plc. has entered into joint operation agreements with private operators, earning revenues in the form of reward from 2 main joint businesses, as follows:

• Joint operation with Bangkok Entertainment Company Limited (BEC) in running Television Channel 3 and air time leasing to radio programs and advertisements on FM 105.5 MHz.
• Joint operation with True Visions Cable Plc. in running subscription television service through cable, which will be expired in December 31, 2019.

The Joint Operation Agreement for the subscription television service between MCOT Plc. and True Visions Cable Plc. ended on December 31, 2019.