Bt400m start to digital auction
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The starting auction price of a standard terrestrial digital TV spectrum for use by a TV channel is estimated to be around Bt400 million, and four times that amount for high-definition digital TV, said Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the National Broadcasting
The NBTC will auction a spectrum for developing 18 commercial standard digital TV channels and four HDTV channels. The auction’s first phase will take place in December.
Yesterday, the Radio-Television Broadcasting Professionals Federation held a seminar at which Natee was invited to update attendees on the regulations for the TV and radio broadcasting industry.
At the seminar, the most frequently asked questions concerned the price of the spectrum to be auctioned for developing a TV channel, as there is concern that it will be high. But Natee said the NBTC is trying to set a suitable starting price, and is in the process of studying the issue.
“In my opinion, it should be around Bt300 million to Bt400 million for one standard digital TV channel, and four times that for an HDTV channel,” Natee said.
According to Natee, the broadcasting committee is expected to issue the first two types of digital TV licenses – the infrastructure licence and the network license – in September.
These two types of licence will cover three platforms: terrestrial TV, satellite TV and cable TV.
The granting of service provider licences, both public and commercial, will take place sometime around December, Natee said.
