Media professionals predict that traditional Thai media will continue to struggle this year, as investment is being directed towards digital media instead, leading to possible layoffs in old media platforms.
Bangkok (VNA) - Media professionals predict that traditional Thai media will continue to struggle this year, as investment is being directed towards digital media instead, leading to possible layoffs in old media platforms.
President of the Association of Digital Television Enterprises of Thailand Suphap Kleekajai said that Thai media will face more challenges, especially caused by changing audience behaviour due to digital disruption, reported The Nation.
Suphap, a veteran journalist, said traditional media must make serious attempts to cope with the impediments, adding that the sluggish economy could worsen the situation.
His remarks followed the firing of several employees in the news industry, particularly TV channels, in 2024, reportedly due to financial reasons. He said that layoffs were also likely in 2025 in outlets that could not cope with technological intervention.
Suphap’s views were shared by Pawat Ruangdejworachai, chief executive officer of advertising agency Media Intelligence Group, who said that in 2025, the only media that will grow is Out Of Home (OOH) and mobile media. The TV industry is projected to face a loss of 7% and is forecast to earn only 30% of the advertising revenue for the whole media industry, he added.
He went on to say that TV media will continue to suffer because consumer behaviour has changed as people watch less TV.
Pawat predicted that many media outlets will restructure their organisations, downsize their businesses, and reduce the number of employees, adding that those with good financial resources could last longer.
Pathamawan Sathaporn, the CEO of marketing at Group M Thailand, said that digital marketing will witness more fluctuation, and it will not be easy for any business to succeed.
🍷 According to Group M Thailand’s report, it is forecast that investment trends in the Thai digital advertising industry in 2025 will grow by 8%, totaling more than 140 billion THB (about 4 billion USD), or 65% of the total advertising budget in the country, which is 24.4% higher than the budget for TV and by 8.4% for OOH./.
Mergers surged to 590 billion THB (17.2 billion USD), almost triple the value recorded in 2023, with transport, medical and insurance sectors leading the growth, reported the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) on January 1.
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is planning to improve mobile banking security measures by limiting certain groups of people, such as teenagers and the elderly, from transferring more than 50,000 THB (1,500 USD) per day.
Thailand’s Education Ministry is intensifying efforts to get as many dropouts as possible back to school in 2025 under the government's Thailand Zero Dropout policy.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
