Thai telco to partner Laos in broadcasts

The CAT Telecom Public Company Ltd of Thailand will help the SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee to broadcast the 25th SEA Games next month.

Mr Khammoui Keomany ( left ) shakes hands with CAT Telecom Public Company representative Mr Khachid Chidsuphan after the signing the agreement.

Phetchampa Advertising Company, representing the committee, and the Thai company this week agreed to act as partners in broadcasting the games from Vientiane on December 9-18.

Phetchampa Advertising Company Director, Mr Khammoui Keomany, said the two parties had held discussions on the matter for the past year but had been unable to finalise an agreement due to timing problems.

“Today we finally join together in agreement to cooperate in broadcasting the games to other countries in the region,” he said.

Mr Khammoui said the agreement outlines the renting of equipment by the committee to allow it to broadcast the games and also sell the broadcast rights to interested countries in the region.

“The proceeds from selling the broadcast rights will be divided 50 percent between the two parties,” he said.

Phetchampa Advertising Company has already sold broadcast rights for the games to companies from Thailand and Vietnam , and is currently in discussions with organisations from Singapore and Cambodia .

Director General of Lao National Television, Dr Bounchom Vongphet, said this would be the first time that a multi-national TV crew had worked at the SEA Games. Outside broadcasting vans will be brought to Laos in December to ensure good quality broadcasts.

“We will have 13 vans from Vietnam , three from Thailand and one from Singapore . They will be used in conjunction with two of our own vans. They will be used to broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies and 19 or more sports,” he said.

Some sports have two or three divisions; for example, aquatics comprises fin swimming, diving and swimming, while volleyball consists of indoor and beach volleyball events.

“Each country coming to assist will bring a team to help with the broadcasting, in cooperation with our staff. So this will be a valuable experience for our TV staff as they work alongside experienced technicians from these three countries,” Dr Bounchom said.

The director accepted that his staff still lacked experience in broadcasting an event like this but he believed the recent 4 Nations Football Tournament had given them much needed experience.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
(Latest Update Novembe 12, 2009)