TrueVisions

TrueVisions is a Thai subscription-television brand and operating company within True Corporation. It provides cable and satellite television services, premium entertainment, sports, movie, documentary, music, news, and lifestyle programming to customers in Thailand. The business is the successor to a series of pay-TV ventures that began with International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) in 1989 and United Television Cable Network (UTV) in 1992. These two businesses became competitors in Thailand's early multichannel television market before merging in 1998 to form United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). IBC was established on April 17, 1989, following a partnership between Clearview International and Thaksin Sinawatra, then chairman of Shinawatra Computers. It received a cable television licence from the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand and initially distributed programming through a microwave-based multichannel multipoint distribution system. The service began in Bangkok and other major cities before expanding into direct-to-home satellite television in 1995. Its programming mix included international channels such as HBO, CNN, and ESPN. UTV was established under TelecomAsia on October 2, 1992. It launched a hybrid fibre-optic cable service in the Bangkok metropolitan area in 1995 and also offered pay-per-view programming. By 1997, its network reportedly reached approximately 800,000 homes. After the Asian financial crisis, IBC and UTV merged in February 1998 to reduce costs and simplify their operations. The combined business began operating as UBC on July 1, 1998. It subsequently operated through separate satellite and cable entities and faced criticism related to its position in Thailand's cable-television market. Ownership and branding changed again during the 2000s. In 2005, True Corporation acquired a 30.59 percent stake in UBC from MIH Holdings and later made an offer for the remaining shares. UBC was delisted from the Thai stock exchange, and the business was rebranded as UBC-True in April 2006. In January 2007, the brand became TrueVisions UBC and later developed into the TrueVisions brand used today. The company expanded its channel portfolio during this period, adding documentary, entertainment, music, and promotional channels. TrueVisions has also been an important distributor of premium sports in Thailand. It secured exclusive Thai broadcasting rights to the Premier League in 2007, lost a later bid in 2012, and regained access through a sublicensing arrangement with beIN Sports in 2016. It subsequently held Premier League rights for the 2019–2022 period. Sports rights, premium international channels, and higher-quality television formats have remained central to its positioning. The company has invested in television technology as viewing habits and broadcast standards evolved. It launched personal video recording services in 2008, tested high-definition broadcasts from 2007, introduced premium HD channels in 2010, and released the HD Plus set-top box in 2011. The HD channel lineup expanded from three channels in 2010 to eight in 2011, seventeen in 2012, and a reported fifty-six by September 2016. In 2012, TrueVisions upgraded its encryption and transmission systems from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 and adopted VideoGuard to address signal security and copyright infringement. It also tested 3D programming and announced a dedicated 4K UHD channel for selected 2018 FIFA World Cup matches. The brand remains associated with subscription television in Thailand, although specific current subscriber figures, management details, and corporate website information are not established in the supplied references.

TrueVisions developed from Thailand's first national pay-television initiatives. International Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1989 by Clearview International and Thaksin Sinawatra, then chairman of Shinawatra Computers. After receiving a cable television licence from the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand, IBC began distributing multichannel programming through a microwave-based system serving Bangkok and other major cities. Its initial programming relied substantially on international networks, including HBO, CNN, and ESPN. In 1995, IBC expanded into direct-to-home satellite television after receiving approval to enlarge its coverage area. MIH Limited acquired a minority interest in IBC in 1997. A second major operator emerged through TelecomAsia. United Television Cable Network was founded on October 2, 1992, and began offering a hybrid fibre-optic cable service in metropolitan Bangkok in September 1995. UTV also supplied pay-per-view programming. Its network reportedly reached roughly 800,000 homes by 1997. That year, UTV transferred its cable infrastructure to Asia Multimedia Company, allowing UTV to concentrate on content and subscriber services. The 1997 Asian financial crisis encouraged consolidation. IBC and UTV merged in February 1998 to reduce operating costs and staffing overhead. The combined company, United Broadcasting Corporation, commenced operations on July 1, 1998. UBC later operated through separate satellite and cable companies. Its market position attracted criticism because of perceived dominance in Thai cable television, although the business continued to expand its subscription and premium-channel activities. The ownership structure changed in the mid-2000s. In November 2005, True Corporation acquired 30.59 percent of UBC from MIH Holdings and launched an offer for the remaining shares at 26.5 baht per share. UBC was subsequently delisted from the Thai stock exchange. The company adopted the UBC-True name in April 2006 and became TrueVisions UBC in January 2007. During the transition, it broadened its in-house and distributed channel portfolio with documentary services such as Explore 1, Explore 2, and Explore 3, promotional services including G-Square and UBC Preview, and music services including Majung TV and True Music. Sports rights became a significant part of the brand's value proposition. TrueVisions announced in January 2007 that it had obtained exclusive rights to broadcast the Premier League in Thailand. It later lost a rights bid in 2012, but returned to Premier League distribution in 2016 through a sublicense from beIN Sports. The company subsequently held Thai Premier League rights for the 2019–2022 period. Technology development has been another continuous theme. TrueVisions tested high-definition broadcasting in 2007 and launched a PVR service in 2008. Premium HD programming began in 2010, while the HD Plus set-top box launched in 2011 with recording support. The HD lineup increased to seventeen channels in 2012 and was reported at fifty-six channels by September 2016. In July 2012, TrueVisions changed its content-protection system to VideoGuard and moved from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 transmission, citing efforts to combat copyright infringement. The company also experimented with 3D broadcasts, including selected reality-program segments and films. In 2018, it announced a 4K UHD channel for selected live FIFA World Cup matches. TrueVisions is a wholly owned subsidiary of True Corporation and remains a Thai cable and satellite television brand.

• 2018

  4K UHD World Cup channel is announced

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced ultra-high-definition coverage of selected 2018 FIFA World Cup matches.

• 2016

  Premier League rights return

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  TrueVisions regained Thai Premier League distribution through a beIN Sports sublicensing agreement.

• 2012

  Encryption and HD distribution are upgraded

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  TrueVisions adopted VideoGuard, moved to MPEG-4, and expanded HD distribution to seventeen channels across cable and satellite.

• 2011

  HD Plus set-top box launches

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced an HD set-top box with external storage support for digital recording.

• 2008

  Personal video recording service launches

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  TrueVisions introduced a subscription PVR service using a dedicated recording set-top box.

• 2007

  TrueVisions UBC launches

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  The business adopted the TrueVisions UBC name and announced Thai Premier League broadcasting rights.

• 2006

  UBC adopts the UBC-True brand

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  Following True Corporation's ownership changes, UBC was rebranded UBC-True.

• 1998

  IBC and UTV become UBC

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  The two operators merged and began operating as United Broadcasting Corporation on July 1.

• 1995

  IBC begins direct-to-home service

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  IBC expanded from microwave distribution into direct-to-home satellite television.

• 1992

  United Television Cable Network is founded

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  UTV was established under TelecomAsia to develop cable television services in Thailand.

• 1989

  International Broadcasting Corporation is established

  [1]TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org

  IBC was established on April 17 and began Thailand's first national television service after receiving a cable television licence.

A premium Thai pay-television platform focused on broad channel choice, international programming, major sports rights, and progressively higher-definition viewing formats.

• Pay television · 1995

  Cable television service

  TrueVisions provides subscription cable television packages in Thailand. The service evolved from UTV's hybrid fibre-optic network and UBC's cable operations, combining linear entertainment, movie, documentary, news, music, and sports channels for household subscribers.

• Pay television · 1995

  Direct-to-home satellite television

  The satellite offering descends from IBC's direct-to-home service introduced in 1995. It enabled TrueVisions to serve subscribers beyond the initial metropolitan cable footprint and eventually carried the brand's standard and high-definition channel packages.

• Sports broadcasting · 2007

  Premium sports packages

  Sports programming is a major part of TrueVisions' premium positioning. The company has distributed major football properties in Thailand, including the Premier League, with rights periods changing through direct awards and sublicensing arrangements.

• Television technology · 2008

  Personal Video Recording

  Introduced in 2008, the PVR service used a separately sold set-top box with a 140 GB hard drive. It allowed subscribers to record television programming and later became associated with premium HD equipment.

• Set-top box · 2011

  HD Plus

  HD Plus was an all-in-one high-definition set-top box launched in 2011. Manufactured by Samsung and Humax, it supported digital video recording through an external eSATA hard drive and was designed for TrueVisions' HD service.

• Television service · 2010

  High-definition television channels

  TrueVisions began testing HD broadcasts in 2007 and introduced premium HD channels in 2010. The lineup expanded from three channels to eight in 2011 and seventeen in 2012, reaching a reported fifty-six channels by September 2016.

• Television service · 2018

  4K UHD channel

  In 2018, TrueVisions announced a dedicated 4K UHD channel for selected live matches from the FIFA World Cup. The initiative extended the company's earlier experimentation with HD and 3D television formats.

• 2016

  Regain Thai Premier League distributionOther

  Background

  TrueVisions had lost a previous rights bid in 2012 and sought to restore a major sports property to its premium offering.

  Action taken

  The company obtained Premier League access through a sublicensing agreement with beIN Sports.

  Aftermath

  TrueVisions subsequently acquired Thai Premier League broadcasting rights for the 2019–2022 period.

  Source

• 2014

  Remove the separate PVR charge for premium customersPrice change

  Background

  TrueVisions adjusted the pricing structure for recording functionality in its premium service tiers.

  Action taken

  The additional monthly PVR fee was removed for customers with premium packages.

  Aftermath

  PVR functionality became included for the specified premium customer group.

  Source

• 2012

  Upgrade content security and compressionStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to address signal security and copyright infringement while supporting higher-quality television distribution.

  Action taken

  TrueVisions switched to VideoGuard content encryption and upgraded transmission from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4.

  Aftermath

  The changes were implemented alongside newer high-definition set-top boxes and expanded HD availability.

  Source

• 2007

  Rebrand the business as TrueVisions UBCStrategy

  Background

  Following True Corporation's acquisition and the UBC-True transition, the company sought to align its pay-TV identity with the True brand.

  Action taken

  UBC-True was rebranded TrueVisions UBC on January 24, 2007.

  Aftermath

  The TrueVisions name became the enduring consumer identity for the cable and satellite television operation.

  Source

• 2005

  True Corporation acquires control of UBCM&A

  Background

  True Corporation sought a larger role in Thailand's subscription television market.

  Action taken

  True Corporation bought a 30.59 percent stake from MIH Holdings, made an offer for outstanding shares, and subsequently delisted UBC.

  Aftermath

  UBC adopted the UBC-True name in 2006 and moved toward the TrueVisions brand.

  Offer price per share. 26.5 baht (2005)

  Source

• 1998

  Merge IBC and UTVM&A

  Background

  The Asian financial crisis created pressure to reduce costs and simplify the Thai pay-TV market's operating structure.

  Action taken

  IBC and UTV merged in February 1998 and began operating as United Broadcasting Corporation on July 1.

  Aftermath

  The merged business became the corporate predecessor of UBC and, ultimately, TrueVisions.

  Source

1. 1TrueVisionsen.wikipedia.org