#gmmtv is not evil

[respectthepetty]

Why I react when GMMTV acquires more BL Boys like Pokemon

TLWR: GMMTV is bigger than we think

For the people in the room who don't understand why some of us (aka ME) get concerned every time a new artist is announced at GMMTV, let me explain myself (and capitalism) to you.

I'm talking to you.

Yes, you. No, don't roll your eyes. *gently holds your face in my hands* Look at my face. I'm serious. Look me in my eyes. I understand that you think I'm overacting and being ridiculous, but I want you to know why I keep harping on this. And I'll try to make it quick. I promise.

Remember this scene from Jack & Joker when the rich people were playing a version of Monopoly? And Jack asked if they were "just playing with people's lives"?

That's capitalism.

So what does that have to do with a Thai talent agency?

Well, it's becoming a monopoly. Amazon and Google are considered monopolies. Legally. They have been sued for it. You might think that there is no way a Thai company worth millions is on the same level as two American companies that are worth trillions (yes, trillions), but Amazon and Google didn't start that way.

And neither did The ONE Enterprise which is the parent company of GMMTV, One31, Change2561, and a subsidiary of GMM Grammy (which at one point Nadao Bangkok was under it), plus countless other companies like Parbdee Tawesuk, Atime Media, and Exact.

Google started off as a search engine. Now we have Chromebooks, Google phones, Google software, Google maps, Google shopping, Gmail, and so much more like it owning YouTube. But there are still other companies that have search engines, so no big deal! We can just use those. But the reason Google was sued as a monopoly by the Department of Justice (and won) was because Google makes it very hard to use those other search engines since everything else it owns only allows us to use Google products. Therefore, there is no competition simply because Google has enough power to control what we, as the consumer, see.

But this didn't start overnight.

A lot of other companies who produce Thai QLs exist, just like all those other search engines still exist, but The ONE Enterprise produces the most QLs through its various branch companies. But not only do those companies produce them, they contract other smaller companies like Studio Commuan, Dee Hup House, Trasher Bangkok, Hard Feeling Film, and many more, which is normal, but that means at any given time, at least ~65-75% of the QLs from Thailand are from one company. But, but, but, The ONE Enterprise's channels also sells slots to other companies, so their QLs can be watched on GMM and other channels. And, remember, this enterprise has only existed in this form since 2022.

So in two years, that enterprise has gone from being behind maybe less than half of the QLs to having a hand in at around two-thirds of them if not more, which doesn't include the fact that the actors in those QLs also have concerts, music contracts, and so much more.

Also, the companies with the largest profits in Thailand are from the finance (banking), real estates (hotel), tech, and medical sectors. Yet GMM Grammy is the ONLY entertainment company in the top 250 from Thailand. That doesn't include the other parts of the conglomerate.

I know I'm throwing a lot around and it seems disconnected because I'm trying to not make this too long, but know this, if The ONE Enterprise already has a hand in, at the lowest estimate, 60% of all QLs made in Thailand and continues to acquire more actors like Studio Wabi Sabi's fleet when it restructred, the 40% that is left for everyone else will continue to shrink. Domundi/Mandee has about 25 actors. GMMTV alone has about 150. Smaller companies can get more actors just like GMMTV can, but with what money when they have to pay to air their shows on The ONE Enterprise's channels while The ONE Enterprise's shows get moved behind paywalls internationally which gives it even more money? And with what crew when The ONE Enterprise has the smaller houses on contract plus its own fleet of talent? And with what incentives can these other companies give actors when they don't have the capability of giving them a record deal, a hosting job, a reality show, merch options, and so much more that The ONE Enterprise can because IT. OWNS. EVERYTHING?

And most importantly, what is allowed to be created when these smaller companies have to abide by one company's rules so their shows can air?

Good for these actors going where the money is, but it's worrisome that The ONE Enterprise is *the* place where most of the money is, and it's only existed in this form for two years.

Money is power. QLs are Thailand's soft power, which can and does influence policies, laws, and society which means people's lives. So, once again, if one company has the most QLs, the most actors, and the most money, it has the most power.

And one entity having the most power in any sector is never a good thing.

[respectthepetty]

Maybe it's the GMMTV point that people are getting hung up on, so I'm going to try this again.

GMMTV is NOT a monopoly.

And neither is Coca-Cola, the example you used because its competition is Pepsi-Cola.

The ONE Enterprise, which is the parent of of GMMTV (and Change2561, the other company you mentioned) is becoming a monopoly. GMMTV doesn't even have the most actors (~150) in the conglomerate. Exact, another company under The ONE Enterprise has more than 200, one of which is Jes. But we never really think who has the contract for most of the actors because why would we?

To focus on shows rather than actors, eight Thai BLs aired last week:

Your Sky*

ThamePo*

Love Sick

Caged Again

Fourever You*

Perfect 10 Liners*

Spare Me Your Mercy*

The ONE Enterprise had part in six out of eight (75%). And by part, I mean paid for, produced, and/or airing on its channels; therefore, gaining profit from the show.

Now, I'll pick a random week in . . . March.

1,000 Years Old

Cherry Magic*

We Are*

Deep Night*

Two Worlds

City of Stars*

Memory in the Letter

Only Boo*

To Be Continued

The ONE Enterprise had part in six out of nine (66%).

So, as I stated before, on any random week, The ONE Enterprise is behind anywhere from 65%-75% of the Thai BLs airing.

A company is viewed as a monopoly once it consistently produces over 50% of a good or product. In America, which is not Thailand, companies get into legal issues once they amass 70% of the market.

But the thing about monopolies is they make it difficult to pinpoint that they are limiting the competition. As you pointed out, other companies exists who produce QLs. Yet all of those other companies only produce about two-thirds of what we have seen in the past two years. That's not competition. Even if all those other shows are hugely popular, it's still not competition.

I don't wish to call The ONE Enterprise a monopoly, as you believe I do, because I do not dream of capitalism, but I do have enough information over the past two years to state that it is becoming a monopoly.

So perhaps I was wrong in saying the company is collecting actors like Pokemon.

The ONE Enterprise is much more equivalent to Hungry Hungry Hippo.

oh and btw, the reason why gmmtv has more artists and produces more works than other companies is because 1) it is under a much bigger parent company and 2) it hopped on the bl train many years before the other emerging companies. a few years ago, it could be called a monopoly if you wished, although even at the very beginning projects like 'together with me' and '2moons' were pretty on par with what gmmtv was making, with the asterisk that they were one-offs for their respective companies at the time. (still, even they showcase that gmmtv is not all-powerful, as most actors from these series have continued their careers - some specifically in the bounds of the bl genre - very much outside of gmmtv, i do believe some of you are currently watching bas in 'fourever you'). these days, we have companies like change2561, which are succeeding in the same exact fields as gmmtv (series, concerts, music, events) and artists from all over (including independent ones - hundreds of thousands of people have literally just watched 'jack & joker') who enjoy exorbitant amounts of success without any need to look back at gmmtv.

monopolies are shit. every week, i am forced to spend ages at a grocery store in attempts to find a sugary drink that is not owned by coca cola or nestle but is of the same quality. "oh, but they produce so much and a lot of people consume what they produce, although there are multiple other companies and even independents that also produce many things which are similar in popularity" is not how a monopoly works.

[bossthebicon]

boss + being the "enemy" part of "enemies to lovers"

[tayvengeance]

Don’t know if anyone uploaded one yet but here is the full kiss in one single video from today’s ep 😘

[pointlesscandies]

The Heart Killers Episode 11

Bonus:

[judgementalcookie]

So Pluto is great as is but you know what will make it even more amazing???

- Mae going from the bubbly innocently pure (not in some ways, wink, wink) and amazing girl she is to a big meanie-schemie-bitchy-devilish-mastermind girl.

And I know Film can pull it off as smooth as gliding through butter.

Like from this

To this

[khaoala]

i've trusted you long enough and it didn't seem to do me any good.

PETER TUINSTRA as CAPTAIN CHRIST episodes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of THE HEART KILLERS

[alaanz]

It’s not even a want at this point

It’s a neeeedddddd!!!

[gunsatthaphan]

#not having it.

[pigglepiephi]

This was spoken like someone who’s already dispatched one of her son’s boyfriends before 🗡️🔫💔

You killed Fadel’s boyfriend didn’t you Mother!!?! 😳😱

[doublel27]

Friends, we have less than 24 hours until PoddPapang/PapangPodd comes to us all!

(Yes I know I’m gonna be lucky if we get five mins per ep…have you not caught my vibe here?!)

[kinthingy]

Bison’s POV “My love is your disease, I won't let it set you free, 'Til I break you”

[letgomaggie]

im going to be mad about the bad buddy takedown for fucking ever. How dare they take it down from youtube. What kind of sense does it make. And after all these years??!

[offjumpoladulkittiporn]

besties who slay together... stay together 💅

[capylala]

I can’t believe that greedy company still won’t give AouBoom their main lead series😭

[pointlesscandies]

Friendly reminder not to think about them slowly letting go of each others hands. Also don't think about Kant and Style trying to hold on for as long as possible; trying to make these last seconds last. Definitely don't think about them staying strong until their boyfriend's leave, then breaking down the second they are alone.