TrueVisions

TrueVisions is a cable and satellite television operator in Thailand. TrueVisions is owned by the True Corporation (prior to February 2007, it was formerly known as the United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) or UBC-True).

History

International Broadcasting Corporation (1989-1998)

The International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) was the first national cable TV provider established in 1989 by Thaksin Shinawatra. After having been granted a 20-years concession to provide subscription television service by MCOT, IBC began broadcasting its programmes via super high frequency microwaves using MMDS.^[1] Its first DTH service began in 1995 after their request for coverage-area expansion was approved.^[2][3] In 1997, South African-Dutch company MIH Limited bought 16% stake in IBC.^[4] IBC’s content mostly came from channels from other countries, such as HBO, CNN and ESPN.

UTV Cable Network (1993-1998)

UTV began providing its CATV service in Bangkok Metropolitan Areas in September of 1995. The service was offered on its high quality hybrid fiber coaxial network, which began deploying in 1994. The cable technology allowed a number of channels to be offered with high quality sound and pictures. It also allowed for added services, such as pay-per-view. By 1997, hybrid fiber coaxial cable network passed an estimated 800,000 homes.^[5]

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 subscriber management service delivery.

Merged into United Broadcasting Corporation (1998-2006)

Due to an economic crisis since 1997, IBC signed a merger with UTV in February 1998, to form United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) in order to survive the crisis by decreasing the operation costs. UBC has separated into two companies 'UBC plc.' - which was operating pay-television service via the satellite transmission via IBC's concession, and 'UBC Cable Co., Ltd.' - which was operating pay-television service via the cable via UTV's cable concession.

UBC-True (2006-2007)

In November 2005, True Corporation (True) announced it would take over UBC plc. It will buy 30.59% stake from MIH Holdings and launch a tender offer for the 221 million shares outstanding at 26.5 baht per share and will delisted UBC from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).^[6]

In April 2006, UBC had rebranded to UBC-True following the takeover completion. UBC was delisted from SET on April 11, 2006.^[7]

On April 2, 2006, UBC-True announced that it was launching 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, also known as TrueVisions UBC along with an announcement of its exclusive rights to Premier League.^[8]

After a long fight on piracy, TrueVisions switched its content encryption system to VideoGuard on July 12th, 2012. It also upgraded its video encryption from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4, which can be used with a new HD set-top box which was launched in October 2011.^[9]

Premier League has been the one of its flagship content for years until it lost the rights to the newcomer, CTH, in a 2012 bid for 2013-2016 broadcast rights. TrueVisions has obtained the Premier League once again in 2016 through beIN Sports who acquired the exclusive rights along with major European football leagues including La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1 most of which TrueVisions had exclusive rights to before. TrueVisions airs 6 beIN Sports channels after completing a negotiation with the Qatar-based sport network.^[10]

On October 15, 2016, TrueVisions suspended the transmission of some of its entertainment and information channels to abide by the official rules for the mourning period following the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Regular programming was gradually returned to the channels over the course of the next several weeks.

Controversy

Channels cancellation and misinformation

On April 1st, 2013, TrueVisions dropped Star World along with Channel M from its platform, with the announcement only being made to viewers on March 30th . This was because Fox International Channels no longer offered them on an exclusive basis. The slot formerly occupied by Star World was replaced with Life Inspired.^[11]

On December 1st, 2015, TrueVisions dropped Food Network from its platform informing its customers that the creator has discontinued broadcasting in Asia but returned January 1st, 2017.

On November 1st, 2016, Discovery Science, DMAX, Eve and Discovery Kids were removed from the platform. TrueVisions has informed its customer that Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has stopped broadcasting those channels in Asia. The channels continued broadcasting in several countries in Asia.

On December 26, 2016, TrueVisions has reported it was seeking an approval to drop HBO Asia's channels including HBO HD, HBO Family, HBO Hits, HBO Signature, Cinemax and RED by HBO from its platform on January 1st, 2017, claiming the company cannot reach an agreement with the content provider. One month later, HBO's Asia Network will be changed at AIS Network TV Continue Broadcast

. It was revealed by Supinya Klangnarong, a commissioner of The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission who said in tweets that TrueVisions broke the regulation by not noticing the regulator within 30 days and also not informing its customers. The Board of Commission has approved TrueVisions' request on December 27th. HBO channels were replaced by Warner TV, Sony Channel, Paramount Channel, Fox Action Movies, Celestial Classic Movies and True Film HD2. Food Network also returned to the platform.^[12] According to an assistant executive of True Corporation, this was because the sister channels received low ratings, and HBO Asia would not allow TrueVisions to carry only the main HBO HD channel.^[13]

Number of subscribers

As of the fourth quarter of 2008, TrueVisions had 799,837 subscribers (1,469,000 subscribers including FreeView).^[14] The table below, charts the annual growth of TrueVisions' subscriber base (excluding TrueLife FreeView):^[15]

Products

Personal Video Recording System

TrueVisions launched its PVR (Personal-Digital Video Recording) system in July 2008. TrueVisions PVR set-top box included 140 GB hard drive for recording. It was sold separately with the packages with an extra monthly fee.^[16]

HD set-top box

TrueVisions launched an HD descrambler and all-in-one set-top box called "HD Plus" in October 2011 after it launched HDTV service. The HD Plus was manufactured by Samsung and Humax. HD Plus also has the PVR feature which was recording using an external eSATA hard drive.

At first, customers who wish to use the PVR service had to pay an extra monthly fee above the normal subscribed rate. It was announced on September 22, 2014 that the premium packages subscribers are allowed to use the service free of charge.^[17][18]

High-definition channels

In November 2007, TrueVisions started testing its high definition (HD) broadcasts as well as the new HD PVR set-top box. The system also had a test run showcase at Bangkok ICT Expo in November 2007.^[19][20]

Channels that they claim to be under the test run include Premier League HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic Channel HD, History Channel HD, and some HD programs on True Series.

In 2010, TrueVisions began offering high-end subscribers three HD channels (one HBO and two sports) via a special extra subscription. The original HD set-top box also decodes regular TV, but does not contain a DVR function. In 2011, TrueVisions offered 8 new HD channels exclusively for CATV subscribers, along with a new combined HD and PVR set-top box, coinciding with a push-to-install fibre optic cable networks in selected provincial areas.^[21]

On July 16, 2012, TrueVisions expanded their HD offerings to 17 channels, making all HD channels available to both DSTV and CATV subscribers.^[22]

In 2013, TrueVisions announced its intention of increasing its HD offering to 50 channels.^[23]

In September 2016, TrueVisions offered 56 HD channels with its flagship package.

Unlike other television operators , TrueVisions' strategy in offering HD channels is to stop offering any duplicated SD channels that are already broadcast in HD, except a few channels where both SD and HD channels are offered. TrueVisions calls this practice as an "upgrade".^[24]

3D broadcasts

TrueVisions has tested 3D broadcasting during 2008, showing short European-made vignettes filmed using the Pulfrich effect, and again in 2009, with segments of Academy Fantasia were broadcast live using the Pulfrich effect, along with the vignettes from the previous airings.^[25] Since 2013, the True Film HD channel has aired selected movies in Side-By-Side 3D format.^[26]

TrueVisions Anywhere

TrueVisions offers a service called "TrueVisions Anywhere" in order to offer more viewing outlets to its customers. TrueVisions' customers can view their subscribed channels (but not all channels) on any mobile devices through this service by applying for an Anywhere account. Functions include 2 Hours Time-shift, 2 Days Catch-up, On-Demand, and Picture Quality.^[27] Many functions are still limited . At the moment, the service is offered for free for any TrueVisions' customers; however, after the free period, customers have to pay a fee in order to use the service.

The number of Anywhere accounts is dependent on the number of installation points the customer has at his/her house.

The number of channels and the free viewing period is dependent on the customer's TrueVisions package.

See also

• Media of Thailand

References

External links

• TrueVisions on Facebook
• TrueVisions Website
• True Website
• True Visions Website
• True Vision English website