NBTC likely to back new TV rating system with Bt150m
The new TV rating system will likely receive Bt150 million in financial support from the broadcasting regulator.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broad casting and Telecommunications Commission, said yesterday that the broadcasting committee on Monday approved the budget in principle.
However, it does not appear to meet the minimum proposed by the Media Agency Association of Thailand’s Media Research Bureau early this month.
The bureau – which consists of local media agencies, analog and digital terrestrial TV broadcasters and cable/satellite TV operators – said the project needed Bt368.8 million in early-stage funding.
Takorn said the bureau could submit additional requests to the Broadcasting and Telecommuni-cations Research and Development Fund for the Public Interest (NBTC Fund).
Regulator earmarked Bt1 billion
NBTC chairman Thares Punsri said the regulator had earmarked Bt1 billion for the NBTC Fund.
Of that budget, Bt400 million was for universal service in radio and TV broadcasting, telecommunications as well as community-based service.
The remaining Bt600 million was for a wide range of projects including research and development in broadcasting for infrastructure,disabled and underprivileged ones talent development, media literacy, consumer-rights protection and promotion of media ethics.
The NBTC Fund will consider the projects next Thursday and select the eligible ones by the end of next month.
Kemata Kematat Paladesh, vice pre|sident of the Radio and Television Broadcasting Professional Federation, said TV audience ratings were very important for broadcasting development.
"This [TV rating development]| is meant to be a key performance indicator of the successful transition to the digital terrestrial TV |era driven by the regulator," Kematat said.
He added that he would discuss the decision of the broadcasting committee with the Media Agency Association for further action to be taken.
The NBTC Fund should have consulted with the media industry and media professionals before making the decision, he said.
It also allocated grants to only 34 of a total of 200 proposals last year, which raises concerns over the selection of the 11 members of its board, he added.
