Public role in contest for 12 TV channels key to accountability, transparency
Academics and a media expert yesterday called for public participation in the "beauty contest" process to decide who wins 12 digital terrestrial TV licences, as they fear the channels could be used as propaganda tools by state agencies, and not for public
Mana Treelayapewat, associate dean of the faculty of communication arts at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), said the National Broadcasting and Telecommuni-cations Commission (NBTC) must ensure that the licensing process involves public participation to ensure transparency and accountability.
The issue was raised at the “Who Will Be the Benefit Takers in the Bt100-Billion Industry of Digital Terrestrial TV Broad-casting?” seminar, organised by the UTCC.
Mana said that if state agencies held all 12 of the licences to operate their own public digital TV channels, they might spend their public budgets for the channels inefficiently, and there could also be corruption.
According to media research firm Nielsen, last year’s advertising spending by the government and public services came in at just over Bt7 billion, making it the third-largest spending category.
Meanwhile, the Media Agency Association of Thailand forecasts that the government will increase its ad spending to promote its populist policies this year and in coming years.
To prevent problems arising, the broadcasting regulator should hold a public hearing before starting a beauty contest for the 12 public TV channels, and at least allow relevant parties to engage in the process, the seminar heard.
Thepchai Yong, Nation Multi-media Group editor-in-chief, stressed that public participation was an essential part of the transition process.
“Digital terrestrial TV channels for public service must be impartial and independent. They should stay away from government control, and work for the people,” he said.
DOMINANCE MAY CONTINUE
Apart from their worries over public TV channels, scholars expressed concern that existing commercial TV operators would maintain their dominance over the Bt100-billion broadcasting industry until their concession contracts end.
Piyabutr Bunaramrueang, associate dean of the UTCC’s School of Law, said that although all TV broadcasters and potential content providers would be allowed to join the spectrum auction of 24 commercial digital TV licences, giant companies in the telecommunication and print sectors would tend to be the winners in this game.
Small and medium-sized companies were being pushed away from this battleground, he added.
Underlining this point, Mana said public TV channels were reserved for government bodies, while commercial TV channels were in essence being lined up for existing TV broadcasters and rich companies.
However, Wisanu Tunta-wiroon, adviser to NBTC member Thawatchai Jittrapanun, told the seminar that the commission was working on a regulation limiting the number of channels each bidder could go for, to prevent a monopoly.
He said there were two options: that each TV broadcaster be allowed to operate a maximum of two channels, for children’s and variety programmes; or that each be permitted to run a maximum of three channels, for children’s, news and variety programming.
