Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip

With its tagline of “The Pride of Thai Excellence,” JKN Global Media is on a mission to bring the country’s unique storytelling to global audiences. Long known as a leading importer of content—licensing shows from around the world for distribution to TV and digital platforms in Thailand—the outfit is also a prolific producer and is offering a range of content to the international market. Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, the CEO of JKN Global Media, tells TV Asia about the company’s business locally and its worldwide aspirations.

TV ASIA: Tell us about JKN’s positioning within Thailand.
JAKRAJUTATIP: JKN is the number one global content management and distribution company in Thailand. JKN is both an influencer and a trendsetter in the country. Our company brings in new content that Thai audiences have never seen before—JKN is the window to the world for Thai audiences. JKN is also collaborating with BEC World to distribute premium Thai drama series worldwide.

TV ASIA: What are your international aspirations for JKN Global?
JAKRAJUTATIP: Previously, going to the global content markets around the world, I acquired a lot of good programming covering all categories in fiction and factual. JKN expects to be the sole global content importer and distributor for this content to the local broadcasters, channels and other [platforms]. On the other hand, JKN has changed its role to be a content exporter to the world. We produce documentaries related to the King and the Queen of Thailand, collaborating with super brands like National Geographic and HISTORY to help our company to broadcast JKN’s original content worldwide.

In June 2018, JKN became the sole distributor for BEC World, selling Thai series to the global market. This year, JKN attended several markets such as FILMART, Vietnam Telefilm and recently MIPCOM. JKN is also having a stand at ATF [and is presenting the] Thailand: Fresh Content panel. We will bring two Thai superstars, Ken Phupoom and Taew Natapohn, to showcase our featured Thai content Nakee, which is an epic franchise that consists of a drama series and a theatrical movie.

TV ASIA: Tell us about your recent deal with ABS-CBN Corporation.
JAKRAJUTATIP: We closed an output deal with ABS-CBN to acquire more than 200 hours of Filipino content to distribute to the Thai market. JKN and ABS-CBN also collaborate on marketing campaigns, such as bringing ABS-CBN’s artists Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Jericho Rosales and Maja Salvador to our JKN Mega Showcase 2018: Diamond Blue [event in August]. All of them got a good response as their series have been broadcasting in Thailand. We are also in discussions with ABS-CBN for an upcoming drama series co-production to feature superstars from [both] countries.

TV ASIA: What other kinds of partnerships are you pursuing?
JAKRAJUTATIP: JKN is looking for content that we can represent and distribute into Thailand and worldwide. We also are looking for partnerships in the area of co-production to produce our own series. Right now we have several projects in collaboration with big production houses and broadcasters in India and the Philippines.

TV ASIA: What makes JKN’s content distinctive in the global marketplace?
JAKRAJUTATIP: The Thai content that we represent and distribute contains good scripts with good production [values] and they can travel internationally. In addition, our drama series feature Thai artists who already have an international fan base, such as Nadech Kugimiya and Yaya Urassaya, who has already become popular in Southeast Asia with over a million followers on Facebook and Instagram.

TV ASIA: What are your goals for the company in the next 12 to 18 months?
JAKRAJUTATIP: Our goal now is to focus on the East Asian markets and to penetrate other markets such as the Middle East, Africa, the U.S. and Latin America as the next step. Our ultimate goal is to bring the pride of Thai excellence worldwide.