29 firms lined up for 24 new TV channel licences

Nation Multimedia Group companies were among the firms that lodged applications for the digital TV licences over the past two days. Nation Kids applied for a children’s channel; Bangkok Business Broadcasting went for a variety channel in standard definition; and NBC Next Vision targeted a news channel.
At the last minute, Surang Preeprem’s Chan 25, a soap opera production house, decided to drop its plan to join the auction in a bid to pave the way for Bangkok Broadcasting and Television (BBTV) to go for a variety channel in high definition (HD) – to avoid any risk of disqualification.
The conflict of interest between BBTV – operator of Channel 7 – and Chan 25 was resolved after Surachai Danaitangtrakul, legal adviser to Chan 25, appeared at the NBTC at 3pm yesterday with an official statement, explaining the reason for the change of plan.
On behalf of Chan 25, Surang said in the statement that BBTV was originally founded by her family in 1967 and Channel 7 was now home for 1,113 employees.
With her family management, Channel 7 had become the leading TV station. But it might create a severe impact both for BBTV and Chan 25, if both companies were disqualified in the application process because Surang and her husband hold about 21 per cent of BBTV shares combined.
Given this, Chan 25 decided to drop its plan to apply to join the bid. Surang, 21st-richest in the country, had prepared a plan to join the bid because her 26-year contract as BBTV managing director ended in 2011, when Krit Ratanarak, “captain” of the Ratanarak family, who owns a majority stake, took control.
In the statement, Chan 25 also revealed BBTV had been seeking talks with it in a bid to prevent a clash of interests between the two parties.
Meanwhile, Natee Sukonrat, chair of the NBTC Broadcasting Committee, offered praise for Surang’s decision to pave the way for her “beloved” company and her support for the transition from analog to digital terrestrial TV, as well as helping the historic change in the broadcasting industry.
During the two-day application period, 29 companies submitted 41 applications and documents for 24 licences to operate commercial digital terrestrial TV channels.
Of the 41 applicants, nine applied for seven variety HD channel licences; 16 applicants went for seven variety standard definition (SD) channels; 10 applicants targeted seven news channel licences; and six aimed for three kids’ channel licences.
Natee said his panel expected to begin the auction between mid-December and mid-January, as it had sufficient numbers of bidders in all categories.
Applicants must pay a deposit of 10 per cent of the starting price of each licence category. The starting price for a children’s channel licence is Bt140 million, while a news channel is Bt220 million, a variety SD channel is Bt380 million, and a variety HD channel is Bt1.51 billion.
The NBTC will draw up shortlists and announce qualified bidders in each category within the next 45 days after the closure of applications.