Some would-be digital TV broadcasters fret over NBTC call for shareholder info
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Some companies interested in bidding for licences to operate digital television channels are worried about being disqualified from the auction if their application forms are incomplete, particularly regarding information about their shareholders.
Several companies have already shown up for one-on-one consultations offered by the broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Communication (NBTC), and some have demanded an explanation on this matter.
The companies that have appeared so far are NBC Next Visions, Nation Kids, Voice TV, InTouch TV, Thai TV, GMM SD Digital TV, GMM HD Digital TV, DN Broadcast, RS Television, True DTT, Thai News Network (TNN) and Chan 25.
Some of the firms’ representatives preferred not to disclose what they discussed with the NBTC’s officers. But some expressed concerns about possible disqualification from the licence auction.
Premon Pinskul, chief financial officer of music and entertainment giant GMM Grammy, which wholly owns GMM SD Digital TV and GMM HD Digital TV, said he wanted clarification on what details about shareholders in his company needed to be declared.
“Do we need to provide all details about our shareholders’ financial background in the application form and their business links outside the company?” he asked.
Panuchai Hetrakul Srinualnad, a director of DN Broadcasting, wholly owned and operated by the Thai-language Daily News newspaper, said he was not worried about how to complete the application.
He noted that problems involving cross-ownership could lead to disqualification, but this was more likely among the companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
Another question raised by some companies was whether it was necessary to declare details about individual shareholders as well as major ones.
In preparation for the application process for the country’s auction of 24 licences for commercial digital terrestrial channels, the broadcasting panel is providing one-on-one consultation for the 33 companies that bought 49 of the bid documents last month. The consultations will run until tomorrow.
The committee is holding the consultation sessions in two locations.
The main NBTC office is being used for companies that wish to secure licences for variety channels in standard definition and children’s channels, while the Monririn Building is hosting companies that want to operate variety channels in high definition and news channels.
The consultations are private and not open to the media.
