#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.

[gunsatthaphan]

#not having it.

[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

[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!!?! 😳😱

[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 💅

[omgtheregoesthefuckidontgive]

Why did they give him this room number 😭

I'm usually too dumb to understand film metaphors and stuff but this has to be a sign right 😂😂

[heretherebedork]

I'm going to start the weekend thinking about how the world keeps rejecting Chopper, keeps telling him that the sins of the father are paid by the son, keeps pulling away the people he loves and he thought loved him and how he still doesn't let that stop him and gets slapped by his father trying to stop him because Ben and Nueng treat him like he has a choice that they don't in standing up to his parents and how brave he is but how small he must feel as everyone falls away from him, leaves him, leaves him by himself trying to stand up to a father who's proven himself willing to kill people who get in his way.

It's let's all be proud of Chopper weekend and hope he gets to prove himself next week. Or turns evil, frankly, he's earned a little evil at this point.

[gmmtv-bl-tournament-but-evil]

One last poll, in the name of tradition!

[youdontloveme-yet]

ZANI NIPAPORN as MAMA SANG

DIRTY LAUNDRY dir. JOJO PHUKHAOTONG

[dribs-and-drabbles]

The Jungle

I wasn't too taken by the original trailer but this one makes the series look better.

I'm hoping...strongly...that, even though it seems to centre around a group of predatory men (not that there's anything wrong with casual sex if both parties are consenting), the show will actually be about a group of kick-ass women who work together to bring those men to their knees (and not in the good way).

Maybe the retaliation starts with this murder...

that Nanon 1 might have committed...

pretending to be Nanon 2.

Yes, ladies. Play those men at their own game. Make them fall in love then discard their sorry asses.

Fuck those men up.

Hoo boy it's gonna get messy.

Yes, babygirl, drown your sorrows after letting a good woman go.

With Nanon, and Off, and Krist (yes! I'm a Krist fan now!), and all the other actors and actresses in the show, I think I'll watch it for the drama...but also for Mix as the potential sage archetype (or leader of the pack, who knows).

[melto]

no fucking way they are making singto and krist play gay together again.

[gunsatthaphan]

💀?

[xceanlynx]

Boun, Prem and Santa on GMMTV? God bless them

[miss0atae]

The Jungle - 7th Episode Review

I’m late again but here we go with the review of the 7th episode.

We got back at the time where Pladao was explaining the death of her cousin. Hack was kind of surprised while Hunter gave of the impression that he doesn't give a shit. His condolences lacked warmth. I was a bit afraid that the episode would be centered around Hack when they started taling about tarantula. Fortunately it wasn’t the case. Evil Naan arrived and gave Pladao some info about her cousin. I found Hack super weird during the scene. The way he was looking at them and his facial expressions. Something is not right with him.

So the info from Evil Naan was that he knew a friend of Pladao’s cousin and they both went to meet that girl. Evil Naan was pretending to be the doctor of Pladao’s cousin and for that he just decided to wear glasses. I mean who can fall for this disguise? Especially when he put them when she is in front of him. Does he think the girl is so gullible that she would fall for it? Pladoa complains about his stupid lie and she is speaking for the audience at this point. Luckily the plot is helping Evil Naan because the girl indeed fall for it and helps them. She gave him a phone with a picture of the cousin and some gossips about the mysterious boyfriend. Of course no one knows his name because this is really a healthy relationship. If my friend refuse to give me the name of her boyfriend I would really become wary but this friend did not do anything. Everyone is dumb is this show otherwise it doesn’t work. Of course after hearing all of that, Evil Naan is sure that this mysterious boyfriend can't be Naan. Pladao still thinks it's Evil Naan because of the pictures. This episode shows again that Evil Naan and Naan have a weird relationships and the series could have addressed that in a better way but no why writing something that makes sense when you can make it beyond understanding. Anyway, Pladoa wants to send him details that she gathered about her cousin and so she asks for his mail. Back at home she is checking him on internet with it. I can’t believe that he would be stupid to use this mail for everything but I forgot I was watching The Jungle when the most stupid move is always the one they chose to do. So she found a private Instagram and directly she thinks he sells drugs. Who in his right mind would use Instagram to sell drugs??? Can someone explain it to me?

So cut to Pladao and Kitti going at Kaewta’s house. I'm sure the guy is suspicious. I Can't trust him. There is a bad vibe around him Look at him with all his questions! Why is she trusting this guy anyways? He was the one who said it was Naan but he has no real evidences. Don't trust him!! Why Okay, she found a diary and she gave it to him. Don't give him anything! Why is she so trusting with him but the other men she can’t trust any of them. Don't listen to him, pleas! He wants to do something else now. He is avoiding her and trying to distract her from her investigation. How can she trust him?! It's frustrating. She didn't trust any of the Jungle but the friend... No question asked. Back at home and she is still investigating Evil Naan when she should investigate the friend. Why is she still on this exposing the RV and the Jungle? How will it help her? Girl, you're an idiot. Using Twitter for this is even more dumb. I don't understand her at all. She looks like she found the best way but it's not a clever move at all. Okay so people knows where is the RV now. Evil Naan finds her and takes her somewhere else to ask her why she did that. She still acts like Evil Naan dated her cousin. So she is still on with this idea because she followed him on Instagram by pretending to be someone else and found a picture of him and her cousin. Evil Naan revealed that he indeed dated her cousin and she broke up with him apparently. Why did you say it before? Why dragging this to that point? When he met Kaewta, he pretended to be his brother. Why would you do that??? Now I’m sure Pladao and Evil Naan are soulmates because they are both super dumb.

Okay so Evil Naan met Kaewta outside of the bar. They had cute moments but it came to an end when she met the real Naan and he didn't know about her. Again, why Evil Naaan pretended to be his brother? This is stupid. Naan is not happy because he was with another girl and he realizes that she misunderstood him with his twin. After that Naan appeared and she slapped him because well he did something wrong. He tried to find her again and apologize but she doesn't want to listen to him. She said that she doesn't trust the things he said to her which is understandable. That was a dumb move to pretend being someone else. He has a problem. Okay so Evil Naan really liked the cousin but lied to Pladao about knowing her. She asks the real question: why pretending to be Naan? He thinks that Naan has an easier life. (What the hell? Why would he think that?) He has such an inferiority complex when it comes to his twin. Man you need a therapy. All the people who gathered outside could not find the bar so they left. The Jungle made the action to hide but showing a bunch of other addresses on internet. Pladao's plan was bad from the beginning anyway.

Okay so all the men are here except Naan and they are not happy with Evil Naan. Pladoa is still thinking she did nothing bad. Girl, it was stupid and not really well thought out. Why should people knows about the RV? Especially that she has proved continually that she's bad at finding the truth. Stop it trying to be the detective. Evil naan defend her but the others laugh at him. Gosh I will have to change his name to Sweet Naan now. Okay Pine was super cruel at that point because he knows how to be very hurtful by comparing Evil/Sweet Naan with his twin. Ouch! Okay so Evil/Sweet is quitting or getting kicked out? Pladao tries to understand and they all think it's their fault if things didn't work out well. Pladao is right, it's hard to know who is the real Evil/Sweet Naan. He is very confusing! Are they flirting right now?! He was just talking about your cousin and you thought you could kiss him You need to check your feelings Pladao!

Pladao is again trying to find info and finally reading that diary! I knew it was that dude! KittiTiwi was so suspicious. Kaewta wrote in her diary that he helped her during this hard time. He totally killed her. The pregnancy revelation was proof enough that the man who killed her didn’t want to deal with it.

Why is Pladao going to talk to Kitti like that? Please talk to someone who knows how to make a real plan. You're not fit for that job! Thankfully, the plot is so easy to follow. Of course he tries to brush it off but Pladao finally knows the truth. She accused him of murdering her cousin and they are alone in the shop. I wouldn’t feel safe. He tries to laugh and tells her to move on. I believe he wasn't thinking that she would be such a pain in his ass when he killed her cousin. Okay, she wasn't really alone. Evil/Sweet Naan was hiding next so she isn't that stupid. So their plan was to rile him.... It could have backfired. This is not a plan. This is suicide mission. They need real help. So they have a conversation about how to find the truth. They want to make him believe Kaewta is still alive. What a ridiculous plan again. A ghost? Where are we? Their plan sucks but it works to make Kitti being afraid. He is taking a taxi to flee but it’s the wrong taxi because it has Evil/Sweet Naan inside. Kitti then wakes up in the bathroom of the RV. This place is so useful. This is the real main character of the show XD. We learn that Kitti killed the cousin because she was difficult... Why not just breaking up with her? Why pretending to be nice and to have the baby with her? Why being a liar? He pretendedto give her medicine for morning sickness and killed her instead. Well, it’s time to pay for his evil actions and we knew it would happen. Evil/Sweet Naan beats the shit of this guy. It is actually refreshing because he clearly deserves it. What is funny is that Pladao came inside the room just to help Evil/Sweet Naan. It’s their fun couple activity to bond. This episode is completely unrealistic. The police comes to arrest Kitti but says nothing about his injuries that he probably got from Evil/Sweet Naan and Pladao. Anyway, they want a statement and Pladao decide to go their alone to protect Evil/Sweet Naan’s identity. This scene ends with a sweet hug between them.

In the next scene, Pladao meets with Evil/Sweet Naan to thank him for his help. She also add that he needs be his true self because he is as good as his twin. She uses his trick with the coin to tell him to gives his real name to people from now on. He admits that he likes her. I think they should have had more time to develop their relationship. He flirts a lot in this two last minutes. Why are they playing their relationship with the coins? Why not just deciding by yourself? At least we got a kiss. I was waiting for it but I'm disappointed. I expected more from them. All the love stories are disappointing, to be honest, which is sad because the actors are not bad. So it’s definitely right to sat that the story is not well written. The concept was intriguing but it doesn’t make sense most of the time. They introduce ideas and never follow them. Their characters don’t have a real personalities and they don’t get the time to have one either. I think I didn’t understand that scene properly. Are they not together? Why making the story so complicated for no reason. Date if that's what you both want. I mean Naan got married in the last episode and he probably stayed a real short time with Nithan. Why Evil/Sweet Naan can’t get a better love story. He was my favorite… after Hunter.

Pladao has decided to drop the Jungle story. Thank you for finally doing what is the best! So she got a message from Evil/Sweet Naan flirting with her. I don’t like that they are not really dating. I would completely rewrite that story if I was the writer.

The episode is not even finished that we get who will be the main characters of the next episode. Irin is in trouble at the airport and Pine came to help her avoid the journalists. She wants to stay at the RV. While she is there, she opened the door to find Hack and not Pine who she was waiting for and that’s the end of the episode. What can I say… I don’t care about Hack, Pine and Irin. What's his deal anyway…

So I was really disappointed by this episode. It was super boring and I almost didn’t make a review of it. I really wanted something better for Pladao. I expected until the end that she would get a better story but no… nothing. Evil Naan is not evil anymore and was never truly Evil. We still did not get any answers about his relationship with Naan and why he acted crazy in the last episode when apparently he is super nice and sweet. Pladao and him don’t even have the chance to have a second episode centered around them that we jump to the triangle love between Hack, Pine and Irin. The pace of the story is worst than ever. I understand why so many people don’t like it. It has big flaws and nothing can save it anymore. It’s sad because the actresses on GMMTV don’t get a lot of chances to shine. They deserve better.