Nonthaburi, Thailand – THAICOM, Asia’s leading commercial satellite operator and the operator of the IPSTAR satellite broadband system, announced that it has signed a contract with Real Metro Company Limited for capacity on the THAICOM-5 satellite platform to transmit its seven television channels under the production and operation of Next Step Company Limited, Next Step. The total contract value is approximately US$6.68 million. In addition, THAICOM has already broadcasted Next Step’s seven channels on the THAICOM-5’s Ku-band transponder since the beginning of 2009. Next Step’s channels include: Samrujlok, Next Step Television, Music Lifestyle, MySci, Fox Crime, Net Geo Wild and Australia Network. Viewers across the country can watch Next Step’s channels via a Ku-band ‘DTV’ satellite dish or ‘Yellow Dish’ service, Next Step’s Top Up TV Service and cable TV service throughout the country. Next Step channels can reach to more than three million households in Thailand. Presently, THAICOM has more than 260 television channels with various regional contents from many countries. Prior to Real Metro, THAICOM 5 satellite has been chosen by GMM Grammy Plc. to broadcast its five television channels – Bang Channel, Green Channel, ACTS Channel, Bird Channel and Fan TV.