Supinya concerned over news channel ToR
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National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's minority commissioner Supinya Klangnarong expressed her concern over the term of reference for digital news channel auction.
In her blog, she said the ratio would be discussed at the meeting on Monday. There was a talk that the minimum ratio of news and informative programmes would be lowered from 75 per cent to 50 per cent of airtime.
"Personally, I disagree with the lower ratio. The ToR in principle is meant to deliver greater benefits to audience and support producers in these areas. The lower requirement would limit audiences' opportunities and could entice bids from big business corporations," she said.
She said several companies, which own newspapers now, may be at a disadvantage.
She admitted that the NBTC Office's reason is reasonable, that the lower requirement will allow more advertising and help these smaller bidders to handle associated costs. Plus, this will differentiate news channels from public TVs of which minimum informative programme ratio is set at 75 per cent.
Yet, she said that the lower ratio would not differentiate these news channels from variety channels.
