1mn television set-top boxes stuck in customs
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The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's broadcasting committee has yet to grant permission to seven companies to take delivery of combined orders of more than a million satellite TV set-top boxes stranded in customs.
About half of the boxes belong to GMM Z, with the rest belonging to five set-top box traders and distributors as well as satellite operator Thaicom.
Broadcasting committee member Supinya Klangnarong said yesterday that the committee has to gather more information to examine whether GMM Z and Thaicom provide subscription pay-TV services. If they are found to do so, the committee cannot grant them the permits to bring in the boxes.
The committee might consider granting the five trading firms permits to bring in their stranded boxes, she added.
The committee will convene again next week to make a final decision on the matter, Supinya said.
The broadcasting committee passed a resolution on May 30 that it would only consider granting permits to import, produce and distribute boxes to those pay-TV operators doing business according to the regulations of state agencies and its own upcoming regulations.
However, it plans to revise or relax this resolution, following complaints from many set-top box-related firms that the resolutions could affect their business.
