Thai broadcaster BEC World sees ad revenue slowing

"Ad revenue this year and in 2010 is not going to grow in double digits ... Probably less than 10 percent," BEC executive Surin Krittayapongpand told Reuters. "At a time like this, we can't really have a major rate hike."

BEC, which owns free-to-air Channel 3 and earns 90 percent of its revenue from advertising, is considering whether to raise its advertising rates for some prime-time slots in the fourth quarter, Surin said.

Surin said the rate rise was expected to be less than 10 percent from 600,000 baht ($17,860) per minute on average.