MUMBAI: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Asia, a division of Viacom, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with AppleTool, a local general entertainment content provider and a subsidiary of VR1 Media Group, to bring MTV Thailand back for fans and viewers to enjoy the 24-hour world class youth entertainment channel.

VR1 Media Group operates two radio stations, a marketing event unit as well as a local general entertainment channel in Thailand. The channel will officially launch on 1 May on Ku-band satellite, which provides access to True Visions customers on Channel 59 on its free view pack, and on C-band satellite, which will reach over 10 million households. The channel?s test signal went live on 18 April.

"We have always seen Thailand as an important market for us, so getting ourselves back in this market is in line with our on-going strategy to extend the coverage of MTV across Asia. It was vital for us to find the right partner who is not only a strong local content producer, but shares the same synergy as we continue to promote and reflect local and cultural tastes and music talents across the region," said VIMN Asia?s executive vice president and managing director, Indra Suharjono. "This move also demonstrates our commitment to strengthen local programming and cater to the specific viewing preferences of Thai millennials."

AppleTool is a content provider, who produces local general entertainment channel and has a local block time on Channel 9 through its subsidiary O Noi Ogg.

"VR1 Media Group is very excited to collaborate with VIMN on this multi-year deal, to launch such an iconic youth entertainment brand like MTV by leveraging our strengths in local production and our strong relationships with agencies and advertisers," said R1 Media Group chief executive officer Byrd Kulpong Bunnag.

"We are confident that our extended distribution both on free-to-air C band and the True Visions platform will give the channel the ability to grow a strong base of core viewers across the whole of Thailand."