Thailand's largest film production-and-distribution company launches its own satellite and cable channel

Television viewers will have the option of catching Thai films on the small screen when the Mongkol Channel goes on the air on Tuesday, three weeks before its official start on July 1.

The new channel, with its familiar bhodi leaf logo, is run by Akarapol techarattana-prasert's Mongkol multimedia. Along with films, it will offer movie-themed variety shows and shorts. The films include those made by sahamongkol Film international as well as foreign films distributed by Mongkol Major.

"We have also bought close to 300 Thai classics to air on the channel," says company vice president vichaya jarujinda.

The cable-and-satellite broadcaster expects to reach some 13 million subscribers nationwide as well as viewers in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The channel isn't yet available on True Visions.

"We will be working with True Visions, and expanding our broadcast to North America and Europe in the future," vichaya says.

XTRA

Behind the scenes

>> Director-actor Thosaphon Siriwiwat is the programme manager and producer of the movie-themed variety shows. "We'll have behind-the-scenes scoops that are even better than you get on DVD special features," he says.

>> Bioscope magazine and the Thai Film foundation have been asked to supply short films to the channel. Other production companies can rent airtime.