Samart sees antenna boom
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TV antenna maker Samart Engineering is upbeat on the sales of its products this year to viewers of digital TV channels as well as those wanting to watch Channel 3's analog programmes after it is removed from the cable and satellite TV networks.
Managing director Thawee Udomkitchote said it targeted sales of at least 2 million units this year, out of its annual production capacity of 5 million units.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s broadcasting committee made the decision on Monday for cable and satellite TV operators to stop airing Channel 3’s analog programmes within 15 days upon receiving the official order. The move falls in line with its “must carry” rule,
obligating both cable and satellite operators to carry only digital channels.
There were attempts by some involved parties to delay the removal of Channel 3 from the cable and satellite networks to prevent an impact on consumers. However, when those operators really stop airing Channel 3, viewers can still watch it with a conventional TV antenna. Currently most people watch Channel 3 via satellite TV set-top boxes.
“When Channel 3 is removed, we have conventional antennas available for watching the channel. Our antennas can be used to watch both analog and digital TV channels,” Thawee said.
The NBTC will start giving away vouchers worth Bt690 each in the middle of next month to 8 million households this year towards the purchase of digital-TV set-top boxes or televisions with digital tuners. The voucher value covers only the boxes, but not a compatible conventional antenna.
Samart Engineering has applied to take part in the NBTC’s voucher-distribution scheme to sell set-top boxes, but Thawee said the com-pany focused more on selling antennas, adding that the market for digital-TV boxes was highly competitive.
The company targets sales of 500,000 to 1 million digital-TV set-top boxes under the voucher project. It has already sold 300,000 boxes, before the commencement of the voucher scheme.
