Hong Kong – CASBAA is starting the new year with its first major event of 2011, the Thailand in View seminar in Bangkok on 20 January at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld. Thailand’s newly thriving cable and satellite TV industry has reached more than 50 per cent penetration – with more than 10 million connections out of a total of 20 million TV households and with ad expenditure estimated at nearly two billion baht (US$60 million) in 2010. In a country with so much growth potential, however, understanding its regulatory and cultural nuances is essential for any participant to survive, much less thrive. CASBAA’s Thailand in View seminar, organised in association with the Satellite Television Association of Thailand (STAT), will examine the key issues affecting the broadcasting sector and how they are altering the national media and communications landscape through changes in broadcasting laws, increased distribution and the fast-growing advertising market. “Thailand is truly one of Asia’s fastest growing markets with seemingly limitless growth opportunities,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO, CASBAA. “Our Thailand in View seminar, backed by our newly published Thailand in View report, which is exclusively available to CASBAA Members, will identify the opportunities and what potential hurdles could impede success.” The day-long Thailand in View meeting has been designed to touch on a variety of important topics including overviews of the country’s pay-TV, satellite TV and news TV markets, with an in-depth analysis of government regulations and their impact on industry growth, advertising potential and distribution models. Speakers at the seminar include H.E. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Subcommittee, Administration of Creative Economy Policy, Government of Thailand; Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, Rights and Liberties and Consumer Protection, Government of Thailand; Tanawat Wansom, President, MCOT; Sinthu Peatrarut, Managing Director, AGB Nielsen Media Research; Chaipranin Visuthipol, President, Advertising Association of Thailand; Niphon Naksompop, President, Satellite Television Association of Thailand; Vilasinee Chivanond, Managing Director, Cable Thai Holdings; and, host Dominique Ullmann, Managing Director, Moving TV.