Dreambase Interactive, a Bangkok-based mobile app developer, is eyeing expansion into two neighbouring countries in a bid to boost revenue growth.
The move aims to gain first-mover advantage in Myanmar and Malaysia before global video-streaming rivals such as YouTube's Premium Content Channel and Netflix enter these countries.
"We have to go overseas and expand our channel distribution apart from offering mobile apps as this will enable us to reach mass users and generate more revenue in the future," said company founder Chatchai Tangchittrong.
Dreambase Interactive Co is the developer of Watchever app, which acts like a mobile video rental shop that also includes concerts and live TV on the go.
It will discuss a deal with SkyNet TV in Myanmar early next month to air Thai entertainment content while screening Myanmar content for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand. There are at least 5 million Myanmar migrant workers here.
The company will also have talks with Malaysia's Digi Telecommunication, which is interested in Thai entertainment content.
Mr Chatchai said digital piracy is still a major threat to the entertainment industry. The company estimates that local digital piracy causes losses of 4-5 billion baht a year for copyright owners.
As the problem cannot be solved in a short period, the company has responded by offering genuine content at lower prices to attract customers. It cut the buffet package price by half to 69 baht a month late last year.
In the meantime, the company will segment content to widen the user base. It will introduce two new packages — cartoons for preschoolers, and animation for children.
Sport is another segment with a strong user base particularly soccer fans who like to watch their teams in live broadcasts and on-demand.
Dreambase also plans to introduce Chromecast, a thumb-sized media-streaming device that can be plugged into the HDMI port on TV sets.
It expects to break even this year.