| RS Public Company Limited | |
| Type: | Public |
| Foundation: | (listed in 2003) |
| Key People: | Founder: Kriengkai Chetchotisak CEO: Surachai Chetchotisak |
| Area Served: | Thailand |
| Industry: | Entertainment and media |
| Products: | Media, Music and Showbiz |
| Revenue: | 3,484 million baht (from 2013 financial statement) |
| Net Income: | 395 million bht |
| Num Employees: | 1,182 |
RS Group (Thai: บริษัท อาร์เอส จำกัด (มหาชน)) is a Thai entertainment and media company formed in 1982.[1] Its core business categories are commerce business and media and entertainment business. The commerce brands are RS Mall and Lifestar Co., Ltd., and the media and entertainment brands are Thai television Channel 8, COOLISM radio station and RS Music.
Jukebox and cassette-tape manufacturer Kriengkai Chetchotisak founded "Rose Sound Co., Ltd." in 1976, the precursor to RS Group.
In 1982, R.S. Sound Co. Ltd. was established, with Kriengkai deciding to target the teenage demographic profile. The first band signed to the record label was Intanin, followed by Kiriboon, Fruity, Sixth Sense, Brandy, and Rainbow.
By 1992, R.S. Promotion 1992 had moved its office from a small building on Urupong Rd. to the "Chetchotisak" building on Soi Ladprao 15 with 300 million Baht capital. Apart from recording albums, it had expanded into other entertainment lines: movies, radio programs, TV programs, and TV series. The company established the R.S. Star Club, the first music fan club in Thailand.
In 1997, R.S. Promotion 1992 expanded into the TV industry by founding Shadow Entertainment Co., and Magic Advertainment Co., Ltd. to produce the games show "Shock Game". This was followed by variety shows, music programs, music videos, and TV series that gave the company both financial performance and reputation.
In 1999, R.S. Promotion entered the radio industry by setting up a new company called "Sky-High Network Co., Ltd." which operated 2 radio stations, "98 Cool FM" and "88.5 Z Pop We Like".
In May 2003, the company was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand as R.S. Promotion Public Company Limited.
In 2006, the company changed its name from "R.S. Promotion Public Company Limited" to "RS Public Company Limited". The company invested 50% in RS International Broadcasting and Sport Management Co., Ltd to expand into the sports business, and was granted media rights to the World Cup tournament in 2010 and 2014.
In 2008, the company invested in Yaak Co., Ltd to expand further into the TV media business, targeting the teenage market. Yaak's TV programs include Teen Plus Show, Kamikaze' Club, 2 Nite Live, and teen drama, Daddy Duo. The company invested about 60 Million in an indoor seven-a-side soccer field called "S-One", located on Bangna-Trad Km.4 road. The soccer field served as a rental field as well as a medium for sponsors targeting sports marketing. The company was granted the media rights to the live broadcasts of the 2008 Euro Football Championship.
In 2009, the Company started the satellite TV business with 2 channels; "YOU Channel" and "Sabaidee TV", which were first broadcast in August 2009 to more than 4.5 million households.
In 2011, the company expanded its satellite TV business by managing 2 channels; "Channel 8" and "Yaak TV", both 24-hour variety channels. The company was granted the media rights to the live broadcasts of the 2012–13 La Liga football tournament.
In 2012, the company expanded its satellite TV presence by launching the new channel "RS Sport La Liga" to support the right to broadcast Spanish La Liga football for the three seasons of 2012–15. The company also modified "Yaak TV" by adjusting the content and format. It was also renamed to "Star Max Channel" with the concept of "entertainment variety for star lovers". In the radio business, the company broadcast FM 88.5 MHz "Sabaidee Radio", a Thai country music station that built on the success of Sabaidee TV and R-Siam.
In 2013, the company entered into a full entertainment production that focused on the media business. "RS Sport La Liga" was converted into a semi-pay TV channel named "Sun Channel La Liga" that featured sports, news entertainment, and Spanish La Liga football. In the radio business, the company rebranded "Sky High" to "COOLISM" and opened a new radio channel named "COOL Celsius 91.5", broadcasting international music.
In 2014, the Company won the Digital TV auction and broadcast Channel 8 as Digital Free TV with standard definition. The company also rebranded "Starmax Channel" to "Channel 2".
In 2023, RS Group merged with GMM Grammy, another Thai music label, and established a joint venture called Across The Universe.[2]
There are eight recording labels under RS Music, covering Thai pop (string) and Thai country music (luk thung) as well as rock, hip hop, rhythm and blues and easy listening. The labels are Yes! Music, Garden, Kamikaze, R-siam, Mingset Mob, The Demo and CHO.
Among the artists with RS Music are:
RS Public Company Limited operates Digital TV Channel 8 and 4 other satellite television channels.
Channel 8 broadcasts variety entertainment and drama shows, targeted to all ages. Channel 8 is broadcast via Digital TV No.27 and Satellite TV No.8 and 37 in C Band, KU Band and the local Cable TV around the country.
Channel 2 broadcasts variety shows featuring famous actors and other celebrities.
Sabaidee TV channel focuses on Thai music of various genres. The slogan used for the channel is "various Thai style music, happy watching for the whole family".
YOU Channel is the channel with the slogan of "Television for Music Lovers", featuring music and variety shows.
Sun Channel La Liga is a new channel under the "Extreme Entertainment Variety" concept that consists of sport, news, information, and entertainment programs. The new channel emphasizes live broadcasting of the La Liga Spanish football.
RS Mall is a shopping channel for foods and products.
The radio stations are composed of 3 different target groups.
COOL Fahrenheit is a radio station known for easy-listening music. It has been topping the Thai rating chart for 20 years and ranked number 1 for the online audience in Asia. The station broadcasts Thai music on FM 93, on their website, and the COOLISM app.
COOL Celsius 91.5 The station offers International Music and Variety Programmes in both Thai and English. COOL Celsius 91.5 formerly used a "Killer Content" Strategy with programming such as American Top 40, hosted by Ryan Seacrest (discontinued in late 2014).
Sabaidee Radio F.M. 88.5 presents a variety of Thai music i.e. country music, country for life music, country music with southern and northern accents, north-eastern music style, Mor-Lum, oldies string music, and country pop music.
RS Music operates three production houses: RoseSound, Kamikaze, and RSIAM. The company also established a joint venture with GMM Grammy, another famous Thai music label called Across The Universe.
RS Film is the company's film-production and distribution arm. Associated production marques include Avant and Film Surf. In addition to making Thai films, the company also distributes films for exhibition in Thailand. Films produced by the company include:
RS Sports is an organizer and broadcaster of sporting events. Currently, RS is a media rights licensee to broadcast the World Cup in 2010 and 2014, the Spanish Football League "La Liga".