TrueVisions may be exempt from cable channel numbers rule
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TRUEVISIONS, the country's leading subscription-based TV broadcaster, might be exempt from a new rule that aims to rearrange the numbering of digital channels on cable and satellite platforms.
After a board meeting yesterday, Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, revealed that the panel had received this recommendation from the NBTC office.
She said the NBTC’s administration suggested that TrueVisions be considered an old operator under an old concession contract. Under existing law, it said broadcasters under the concession regime would be protected.
However, the five members of the broadcasting panel had not yet reached a conclusion on this issue, she added.
Major cable and satellite TV operators including TrueVisions have expressed strong opposition to the channel-numbering proposal. If it were enacted, they would have to reserve their first 36 channels for terrestrial-based digital TV.
Channels 1-12 would be for public-service programmes; channels 13-15 for children’s and family programmes; channels 16-22 for news; channels 23-29 for variety programming in standard definition; and channels 30-36 for variety in high definition.
Own preferences
Currently, cable and satellite TV operators can assign the first 10 channels based on their own preferences, followed by the 36 digital channels.
“We acknowledge that it seems to be difficult to apply a new rule that aims to create a single standard for digital terrestrial and cable/satellite TV platforms,” Supinya said.
In an attempt to persuade broadcasters to back the scheme, she said the broadcasting panel was studying the possibility of relaxing related rules such as the one governing TV channel grouping on cable/satellite TV platforms.
Supinya said the committee might allow operators to select their own channels if they agreed to set channels 1-36 for digital.
