Thaliand’s Next Step taps AsiaSat for launch of international channel

Satellite operator AsiaSat and Thai multi-channel operator Next Step Company have forged a strategic partnership that will see the pair launch and distribute a new international lifestyle HD channel, Thainess.

In collaboration with Next Step, AsiaSat will provide technical and marketing support to deliver Thainess to the international market, providing broadcasting via satellite and live streaming by AsiaSat’s subsidiary One Click Go Live.

At launch, Thainess will broadcast in C-band on AsiaSat 7, targeting the latter’s footprint of 250 million pay TV homes and 500,000 hotel rooms.

Thainess, the international TV service of Next Step, is a lifestyle HD channel broadcasting 24 hours a day in English. Content will focus on the country’s people and culture, history and traditions, arts and crafts, food, music and scenic landscape, nature and wildlife.

“Thainess is our next major move to expand the soft power from Thailand to the world. This is in line with the country’s strategy to use Thai culture, Thai food and Thai hospitality to create a good perception of Thailand to global citizens.  Following the success of our national television service, we are excited to launch our global channel Thainess on AsiaSat 7 to introduce the uniqueness of Thailand to a much wider audience,” said Amornphat Chomrat, managing director of Next Step.

“We are delighted to enter into this long-term collaboration with Next Step to support their strategic development in making Thainess the best representation of Thailand in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.  We thank Next Step for choosing AsiaSat as their exclusive media service partner for the global launch of Thainess by leveraging one of our most watched satellite TV platforms AsiaSat 7 and our expertise in media management and content distribution to present Thainess – the unique Thai culture and value to the world,” said Ina Lui, SVP, commercial, business development and strategy of AsiaSat.