Cable/satellite providers must obey channel number rule after court ruling
The broadcasting regulator yesterday warned that all providers of cable and satellite TV services must strictly comply with its "must carry" rule and an administrative order to rearrange digital-TV channel numbers after a court ruled in favour of the Nati
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, said that from now on, his administration would closely monitor the operations of local cable and satellite TV providers to make sure they comply with the broadcasting regulations.
“If they fail to follow the rules, |they will face a daily fine ranging |from Bt20,000 to Bt5 million,” he warned.
The Central Administrative Court yesterday rejected a petition for a temporary injunction against the NBTC rules. TrueVisions Group, PSI Holdings, Big4 Satellite Group, AB TV and Charoen Cable TV had filed a lawsuit against the rules and called for their revocation.
After the court’s verdict, cable and satellite TV providers must reserve channel numbers 1 to 36 for digital stations. The same rule applies to digital TV receivers.
Administrative order
Takorn said the NBTC issued the administrative order to rearrange the digital-TV channel numbers on cable and satellite in an attempt to set a single standard across all platforms. Currently, digital-TV channel numbers run from 11 to 46 on both cable and satellite set-top boxes.
Two months ago, the commission also adjusted and added some details to the must-carry rule in order to make sure that digital TV channels are not split up by cable or satellite TV operators.
According to these amendments, cable/satellite providers must pack all 36 terrestrial-based digital channels together, beginning with the 12 public-service channels and then the 24 commercial stations.
