Ban Somdej Poll, a research and development institute at Rajabhat University Ban Somdej, conducted a survey on the use of Over-the-top (OTT) video streaming services among Bangkok residents. The survey, conducted from April 7-10, 2024, involved 1,114 respondents.
Key Findings:
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High OTT Adoption: 91.3% of respondents use OTT services, with 87.1% paying for subscriptions. 90.1% use multiple OTT platforms.
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Popular OTT Providers: Among Thai OTT providers, TrueID ranked first (49%), followed by AISPLAY (44.3%), 3 PLUS (18%), MONOMAX (13.3%), and Bugaboo Inter (8.4%). For international providers, Netflix ranked first (67%), followed by YouTube (48.7%), Disney Plus Hotstar (15.3%), Viu (13.3%), and iQIYI (12.2%).
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Monthly Spending: 75.5% of respondents spend 1-500 baht per month on OTT subscriptions. 65.8% believe their current OTT spending is appropriate, with 74.7% indicating 1-500 baht per month as an ideal range.
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Opposition to Ads in Paid Packages: 73.8% of paid subscribers believe ads should not be included in subscription packages. 25.6% have encountered ads despite paying for subscriptions.
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Reasons for Paid Subscriptions: The top reasons for choosing paid subscriptions are access to desired content (72.2%), avoiding ads (19.4%), and following favorite celebrities (6.8%).
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Views on Government Regulation: 42.3% of respondents support government taxation of OTT providers. 51% oppose government content regulation, while 70.2% support price regulation.
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Preferred Penalties for Non-Compliant OTT Providers: 76.4% support fines, 42.1% support service suspension, and 1.9% support license revocation.
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Complaint Channels: In case of OTT-related issues, 54.4% would contact the OTT provider’s call center, 16% the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP), 13.6% the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), 6.6% are unsure, and 4.7% would contact the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCDS) or the Consumer Protection Council.
Call to Action:
The survey highlights the need for government intervention to regulate OTT services and protect consumer rights. Key areas for regulation include:
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Content Regulation: Implement mechanisms to ensure appropriate content for Thai audiences without overly restricting freedom of expression.
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Pricing Regulation: Prevent excessive pricing and ensure transparency in subscription costs.
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Advertising Practices: Address the issue of ads in paid subscriptions, considering potential consumer protection measures.
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Taxation: Establish a fair taxation framework for OTT providers to contribute to the Thai economy.
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Enforcement Mechanisms: Implement effective enforcement mechanisms to address non-compliance and protect consumer interests.
By addressing these concerns, the government can foster a healthy and sustainable OTT ecosystem that benefits both consumers and service providers.
