Media companies flock to NBTC to submit applications
Despite facing the risk of disqualification, Bangkok Broadcasting and Television (BBTV), the operator of Channel 7, turned out this morning to submit its application to join the country's first unique spectrum for commercial digital terrestrial TV licenc
Along with its subsidiary BBTV Satelvision, BBTV's legal team arrived at the office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) about 30 minutes before the application process started at 9.
The Channel 7 operator is bidding for a variety channel in high definition (HD) while its subsidiary is going for a variety channel in standard definition.
BBTV's decision to join the bid for variety HD was made amidst the ongoing conflict of interest between BBTV and Surang Prempree's Chan 25, with both companies saying they are targeting the HD variety category. However, both parties also risk disqualification, as Surang and her spouse hold a combined 21 per cent of BBTV's shares.
The NBTC's Broadcasting Committee is accepting applications from the 33 companies that bought bid documents last month until tomorrow. The application period runs from 9am to 4pm.
The NBTC has reserved 24 commercial digital terrestrial TV licences for this coming bid. Twenty-one of the channels are equally split between variety HD, variety SD and news SD while the remaining three are for kid's SD channels.
Apart from BBTV and BBTV Satelvision, Nation Multimedia Group (NMG)'s three subsidiaries were among those companies that applied for commercial digital terrestrial TV channels.
Under the NMG, Nation Kids is targeting a kid's channel, NBC Next Vision hopes to win a news SD channel while Bangkok Business Broadcasting is aiming for a variety SD.
Voice TV applied for two licences in the news SD and a variety SD. DN Broadcast, a subsidiary of Dailynews newspaper publisher, is applying for a news SD channel. Rose Media and Entertainment is hoping to get a kid's channel.
RS Television applied for a variety SD and Amarin Television went for two licences for variety HD and SD. 3A Marketing applied for a news SD.
Additionally, PM Group applied for a variety HD while 411 Entertainment is aiming for a variety SD. Both companies are owned by Prayudh Mahagitsiri and family, the 16th richest family in Thailand with a net worth of US$1.15 billion (Bt37.2 billion) from coffee and shipping business.
I-Sport Media, a 50:50 joint venture of Siam Sport Syndicate and Samart Corporation, also appeared and submitted its application documents for a news SD channel.
Triple V, a subsidiary of Thai Rath newspaper publisher, applied for a variety SD channel.
More companies are also expected to apply.
Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC's broadcasting panel, said that his panel expected to make it to the shortlisted list of qualified bidders within 45 days after applications close.
