30 channels to air on Dec 5

Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commis-sion, said his panel would announce the final fees for each network provider by next month. 

The NBTC yesterday officially granted four licences for digital TV network providers, namely the Royal Thai Army, MCOT, the Public Relations Department (PRD) and Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS). 

The four entities proposed different ranges of network leasing fees for standard- and high-definition service to the broadcasting panel, ranging from Bt1.5 million to Bt12 million a month. In the first three years, channel operators will pay fees on a sliding scale for network leasing, with fixed rates set from the fourth year and beyond. 

However, Natee confirmed that the broadcasting committee would finalise network leasing fees after going through documents and investment plans provided by the four key operators to make sure these fees were reasonable, affordable and fair for all bidders. 

It is also clear that under the must-carry rule, network providers must carry digital terrestrial TV signals via satellite TV with DVB-S1 (digital video broadcasting for satellite generation 1) technology only. Additionally, the NBTC plans to assign a special network provider to oversee the digital transmission of community-based channels. With these decisions, Natee hopes that final network leasing costs will be affordable. 

To build awareness about digital TV broadcasting, the NBTC launched “Nong Do Dee” as mascot for communications and activities across the country. 

By the end of next month, manufacturers and distributors of digital TV set-top boxes will get the green light to put their products on the shelves. 

The NBTC will hold the spectrum auction for 24 digital channels for commercial purpose in October and plans to issue the first public TV licence to Parliament House. 

Thai PBS, which recently obtained the first infrastructure licence under the digital project, said it was planning to propose an extra budget to the government for its new kid’s channel. 

Mongkol Leelatham, deputy director-general of Thai PBS, said his organisation would use 34 broadcasting sites in line with MCOT’s five transmitting sites as the main centres for digital terrestrial broadcasting and expected to cover more than 90 per cent of the households in the Kingdom within two years.

Apinan Jantarungsri, director-general of the PRD, said it had earmarked about Bt3 billion for digital-network expansion over the next three years. The department aims to be a network provider for digital TV channels for community-based service.

Kraisorn Srisukh, deputy managing director of the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station, said TV5 was studying its investment plan for the new digital network with other state-run media. Total costs would be finalised by next month.

MCOT president Anek Permvongseni said it had prepared at least Bt3 billion for investment in a digital TV network over the next three years.