Radio revamp: panel to propose 6-month transition
The NBTC broadcasting committee will propose for the full National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's consideration next Wednesday a six-month transitional period for content providers to migrate to new radio channels.
Supinya Klangnarong, the NBTC’s spokeswoman and a member of the committee, said on Wednesday that six months was enough time for these firms and she was certain that the commission would agree.
The broadcasting committee’s resolution this week that the NBTC should grant a six-month grace period to firms developing programming with the commission’s 1 Por Nor Station followed the NBTC’s decision last week not to renew their contracts when they expire at year-end.
The NBTC plans to reallocate the nine frequencies used by 1 Por Nor.
The NBTC is expected to advise the radio production houses in writing next week of the decision not to extend their joint development contracts.
The nine channels are FM106.5, FM98.5, AM1035, AM1089, FM102, FM99, AM1089, FM89 and AM765.
A-Time Media, a unit of media giant GMM Grammy, is one of the firms developing radio content with the 1 Por Nor Station for the FM106.5 channel.
Paiboon Damrongchaitham, chairman of GMM Grammy, said this week that his company needed one year for preparation to avoid any dead air.
Supinya said the firms could discuss with NBTC staff whether the move would cause them any inconvenience.
The NBTC will also finish drafting the spectrum management master plan next week before putting it to public hearings so it can grant new telecom and broadcasting licences.
The commission will also determine in this spectrum plan the periods for frequencies to be returned to it for reallocation.
The periods are expected to range from five to 15 years.
The NBTC is also drafting in parallel master plans for development of the broadcasting and telecom industries.
