NMG sues NBTC over alleged mishandling of transition to digital TV
NATION Multimedia Group (NMG) yesterday sued the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for almost Bt3 billion |in damages at the Central Administration Court, allegedly caused by the regulator's negligence in marshalling the tran
NMG, which operates two terrestrial-based digital channels, the Nation TV news station and Now 26 variety channel, was the latest broadcaster to take this matter to the court. It says it believes that the transition to digital television is very crucial for the national benefit.
The company appealed to the court for Bt2.96 billion in compensation, comprising Bt1.958 billion for Now 26 and Bt1.003 billion for Nation TV.
Adisak Limprungpatanakij, chief executive officer of Nation Broadcasting Corporation, a member of NMG, said yesterday that there was an array of promises that the NBTC had not delivered on yet.
“Although the commission is going to set a single standard of channel numbering across all platforms next month, we need more remedial measures for opportunity losses arising from the delay in the roll-out of the digital TV network under the NBTC,” Adisak said.
In the petition to the court, NMG also called for both financial and non-financial support for the whole industry, such as postponement of the third instalment of upfront licence fees that is scheduled for May, and financial assistance involving the cost of cable and satellite TV transmission and new TV audience ratings.
Apart from Nation TV and Now 26, five other major digital TV channels yesterday appeared at the court and asked for compensation of Bt21 million per day in a case against the NBTC for inattention and delayed execution on the transition from an analog TV system to a digital one.
Complaint group
The other five channels in the complaint group are One, PPTV, Thairath TV, GMM 25, and Bright TV.
Wasin Leotwalaipong, a lawyer from Baker & McKenzie, which is the legal representative of the group of broadcasters, said the original five complainants yesterday altered their petition, demanding daily compensation of Bt21 million until the NBTC ceases inattention of infringements and follows legal practices for the TV system transition.
On August 24, the group had filed a case against the NBTC alleging inattention to the delayed transition from analog to digital, asking for Bt9.55-billion compensation with interest of 7.5 per cent per annum.
Both parties were interrogated by the Central Administrative Court. The NBTC agreed to solve the problems and obstacles, but there have not been any solutions yet.
The digital TV group also handed in its proposed measures for setting of licence fees and contribution to the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for the Public Interest (BTFP), the TV rating system and others.
Adisak said that if the problems and obstacles remained unsolved, there could be three or four more digital TV operators suing the broadcasting regulator.
