Regulator okays 54 digital-capable TV sets

Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the committee, said these companies would be able to put those models on the shelves once they got permits to import and distribute them from the NBTC office.
Of the 54 qualified models, Panasonic, Sony and Samsung each have 13 and LG has 15.
These television sets can receive digital terrestrial signals directly via their own antennas, with no need to use a set-top box to convert the signal.
Under the NBTC’s subsidy policy to migrate people from analog to digital terrestrial broadcasting, all households can get discount coupons to buy these types of integrated digital TV sets.
In a separate matter, the broadcasting panel set a deadline for four key licensed digital-TV network providers to submit their proposals for network leasing fees the middle of next month.
This decision came after the final approval of the information memorandum (IM) to invite bidders for the auction of 24 commercial digital terrestrial TV licences.
Natee said the fee proposals should be based on the estimated cost of the service.
In the final IM, the panel agreed to add some key details. For example, all licensed network providers must finalise their leasing fees to all applicants at least 30 days before the auction begins. That deadline has now been firmed up as September 15.
The panel will determine the exact date of the auction for each TV licence category within 15 days after the qualified bidders are named.
Effective today, the IM involves required qualifications of bidders, auction methodology and the key processes ranging from invitations to and holding of the auction to the awarding of licences.
With the IM finalised, interested parties can now be invited to apply for participation in the licence auction. The application forms will be available from September 10 to 12. The broadcasting regulator will hold an open house about how to fill out the application forms on October 15.
Each application-form package costs Bt1 million, excluding 7-per-cent value-added tax.
The broadcasting panel has set the application period for October 28-29. Qualified bidders will be named within 45 days after the closure of applications.
All qualified bidders will be informed about details |of the auction, and a mock-up auction will be held |within 15 days after the bidders are short-listed. The spectrum auction will begin within 30 days after the final lists of qualified bidders in each licence category are announced.