Thai Football 2024/25

[Big Boy]

Some good news, I hope. Although no longer called the Revo Thai League 1, I see Revo has re-appeared in the list of sponsors.

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[Big Boy]

Tonight's T1 Results:

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[Big Boy]

Tonight's T1 results:

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[Big Boy]

Tonight's T1 result:

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[Big Boy]

Matchweek 1 League Table

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[Big Boy]

An interesting stat from last weekend's Thai football. The 3 newcomers to the league posted the top attendances.

Nakhon Ratchasima posted the highest attendance of the week with 10,021. However, we shouldn't forget, 20,000 is the break-even point.

The entire weekend saw just 39,907 fans at T1 football. An average of 4,988 per match.

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[buksida]

I still think Covid and lockdowns have a lot to do with low attendance - we haven't been back to Prachuap since (not because of Covid, but because we got out of the habit of going to see home games.) Would be interesting to compare attendance figures before and after the two-year lockdown.

[Big Boy]

I agree, Covid had a huge effect, and many turned to watching on TV. They are now putting a lot of emphasis on TV money, with T1 clubs receiving ฿160M this year alone. However, I do wonder how much that has increased on last year with True increasing viewer subscriptions 300 to 400% this season. Is True's profiteering in line with increased club benefits? I sincerely doubt it, but would love to be proved wrong.

As for attendances, with Korat returning to the big time, they will most certainly improve the league's average attendance figures, but while you've got the 2nd best team in Thailand surviving on 2,000 supporters per week, it needs something more than TV money.

[caller]

True have to make their money somehow, and I doubt their outlay is recovered by advertising, if they pulled out, what would happen to TV coverage?

[Big Boy]

Yes, but a monthly subscription increase of 300 to 400% is a tad above the inflation rate that they keep telling us is low, and coming down even further. If Thai football was reaping some additional benefit from the increase, I'd say fair enough, Thai football needs it. Unfortunately, I think clubs are receiving the same TV payout this year as last.

Are True not benefitting from having a monopoly? Viewers are being asked to subscribe 50% of what they'd pay to watch live football. With a 300 to 400% increase, it will most likely force even more supporters into their armchairs.

[caller]

Are True not benefitting from having a monopoly? Viewers are being asked to subscribe 50% of what they'd pay to watch live football. With a 300 to 400% increase, it will most likely force even more supporters into their armchairs.

Well Sky had a monopoly for years on the premiership in England, primarily as they were the only ones able to provide such a service. Did prices come down when others appeared on the scene?

I accept all you're saying about prices and the cost involved, I learnt the other day it costs 100-200 baht to watch the swat cats, but it does seem Thai football needs True more than they need them.

[Big Boy]

It just doesn't seem right. Last year True shared the rights with AIS and 3BB, and the service was great for 50฿/month. Now they have sole rights, they have 3x the income, and are charging between 150฿ and 200฿/month. With 3x the income, I'd have thought the cost should have reduced.

Similarly, True have doubled my costs for Premier League football this season. Mind you, I did feel they were seriously under-charging for the previous 3 years. Premier League is still great value when compared to domestic football in Thailand, although I know Thais being forced down pirate streaming road because they can't afford the 100% increase.

[caller]

Maybe AIS & 3BB pulled out?

[Big Boy]

Yes, I think they did, but I don't see that as justification for such a price hike, unless they they were all running at a loss, of course. If they were, it would help sceptics like me understand if they actually spoke out. The problem is, they won't actually gain by the price hike, because many Thais will simply switch to the illegal free streaming channels. People were content with a 50฿/month charge, and they paid it. Increasing it to 200฿/month is massive for basic Thai wage earners.

[caller]

People were content with a 50฿/month charge, and they paid it. Increasing it to 200฿/month is massive for basic Thai wage earners.

Maybe they will return to the grounds to watch live games?

Personally, I think they should avoid games clashing with the premiership. I recall in Korat some absolutely huge open air bars with cinema sized screens, that were packed during live premiership games.