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(The Nation via NewsEdge) Internet protocol TV, or IPTV, will become a 'substantial' business in Thailand as soon as this year, Anytime, an Asia-Pacific video-on-demand channel, has predicted.

Despite a slow start, Peter Lorimer, Anytime VP of marketing and communications, said the company has realized many in Thailand are looking to launch an IPTV service.

'We have been talking with many firms in Thailand. Every one wants to do IPTV. Even if only half of them implement it, this is going to be a substantial business by the end of this year,' he said.

With shareholders including Fox, Sony, Warner Bros, and Intel Capital, Anytime has existing carriage deals in Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and the latest, India. The Singapore-based firm is providing Hollywood and Chinese movie video-on-demand content to Buddy Broadband's iPTV channels.

'Video-on-demand is a growing industry. All telcom companies in the region are exploring iPTV and a critical element of iPTV is video-on-demand,' he said. 'IPTV is growing phenomenonly in the region'.

Lorimer said in every market including Thailand, about 30% to 40% of users who regularly access IPTV channels are watching his company's VoD content.

Lorimer said Thailand is a very exciting market and the firm is bullish on its prospects, even though there have been problems with the network.

However, Anytime expects network matters to be resolved in the coming years since operators have announced plans to invest in expansion.

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