Although he insisted Kantana's programmes would not be affected by changes at iTV, group chief Jaruek Kanjaruek said iTV's long-term business plan needed revision, in order to be in line with the PM's Office's guidelines. He is also unsure whether Kantana would move its programmes to other channels.

Still, he is confident that dramas produced by the group will not be affected, because iTV broadcasts few dramas.

IT sector grows

Thailand's information-technology (IT) sector grew 12.6 per cent this year and is expected to grow another 15 per cent next year, reports the Thai News Agency.

Fuelled by government spending and stable fuel prices, the IT industry has enjoyed revenues of Bt141.43 billion this year, led by software and hardware products, computer services and data-communication equipment, says the Association of Thai Computer Manufacturing.

The association predicted revenues would climb to Bt162.72 billion next year. The healthy growth was predicted because of expected economic growth of 4-5 per cent and disbursement of the state's investment budget, stable oil prices and an expected decline in inflation and interest rates.

SME investments

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the glass and ceramics industry have invested a total of Bt17 billion this year, down 2.38 per cent from last year's Bt18 billion, due probably to a slump in combined turnover and net profits, says the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion.

Their combined turnover this year dropped 5.26 per cent per annum, from Bt19 billion to Bt18 billion, while net profit dropped 10.53 per cent, from Bt1.9 billion to Bt1.7 billion. However, the entire market's total turnover rose 0.65 per cent per annum to about Bt85 billion.