Watchdog drawing up list of programmes that can be broadcast

The move is in response to requests to the watchdog by pay TV operators – as well as the holders of the broadcasting rights of highly popular programmes – to set clear rules regarding the broadcasting of copyrighted programmes on free TV channels.
Natee Sukonrat, broadcasting committee chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), said the committee was drawing up the ‘must carry’ rules to oblige all cable TV, satellite dish TV, and pay TV operators, and the future terrestrial digital TV operators, to air all free TV channels.
Moreover, it is compiling a list of the copyrighted programmes that subscribers of these TV operators will have equal rights to enjoy when they are telecast on free TV channels – and they will have no right to block them. These could include the Olympic Games or Asean Games and other content – but the list will not include some programmes such as the English Premier League. The NBTC has already introduced rules requiring importers and local makers of all kinds of TV set-top boxes to apply for its import and manufacturing permits and to explain how they’ll be used.
All the rules are to prepare the industry to switch from the analog TV system to terrestrial digital TV. The watchdog is set to auction the licences to offer commercial digital TV services early next year, he added.
Last week, major pay TV operator TrueVisions said the government or the NBTC must establish a clear rule that free TV operators must not limit rights of viewers to watch any of their programmes, regardless of the devices or platforms the programmes are received on. TrueVisions subscribers, who do not have set-top boxes of the content provider GMM Z or a conventional TV antenna, have yet to be able to view the Euro 2012 soccer matches, which started on Friday on Channel 3, 5, and 9, by using their existing TrueVisions set-top-boxes. Normally they can view all free TV channels via the boxes. TrueVis-ions and GMM Z of GMM Grammy are expected to conclude this week if GMM Z will allow TrueVisions’ subscribers to view the programmes via their own boxes.
TrueVisions asked the NBTC last week to look into why its subscribers could not view the matches via their boxes. The watchdog then made an order for TrueVisions to enable its subscribers to view all free TV programmes carried in its pay channel as usual, and according to its contracts with subscribers. This prompted TrueVisions to talk with GMM Grammy to seek ways to settle the problem.
The NBTC broadcasting committee will also decide today if TrueVisions is failing to comply with the order to enable its subscribers to view all free TV programmes on its network. An NBTC source said TrueVisions might not face a penalty given it has tried its best to meet the NBTC order.