True Visions Group Co., Ltd. is the largest provider of a cable 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)
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 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.[1]
In 1995, after approval for an expansion of coverage area, the IBC began its first DTH service.[2][3] In 1997, the South African–Dutch company, MIH Limited, bought a sixteen percent stake in the IBC.[4] The IBC obtained most program content from the channels of other countries including HBO, CNN and ESPN.[citation needed]
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.[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 service delivery to subscribers.[citation needed]
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).[6] UBC rebranded to "UBC-True" sometime in April 2006. UBC was delisted from SET on April 11, 2006.[7]
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.[citation needed]
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.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10] However, TrueVisions won the rights to broadcast the Premier League in Thailand for three more seasons, from 2019 through 2022.[citation needed]
Subscribers
At the end of the 2008 financial year, TrueVisions had 799,837 subscribers (1,469,000 subscribers including FreeView).[11] The table below, charts the annual growth of TrueVisions' subscriber base (excluding TrueLife FreeView):[12]
Year
Subscribers
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.[13]
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 eSATAhard drive. On September 22, 2014, the extra monthly fee for PVR was removed for customers with premium packages.[14][15]
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.[16] 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.[17] On July 16, 2012, TrueVisions expanded their HD offerings to seventeen channels, making all HD channels available to both DSTV and CATV subscribers.[18] 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.[19] Since 2013, the True Film HD channel has aired selected movies in a Side-By-Side 3D format.[20]
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.[21]
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".[citation needed]
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