True Visions still fined daily
TRUE Visions Group, the country’s largest pay TV operator, will continue to be fined daily until it completes rearranging its digital TV channel numbers in accordance with the industry watchdog’s rules.
“Even though True Visions Group has finally decided to follow the NBTC’s [National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission] rule, we, as the broadcasting regulator, have to maintain the law enforcement for this case until the switchover is up and ready,” said Sombat Leelapata, acting deputy secretary general of the NBTC yesterday.
True Visions has been fined since early this year when it insisted on reserving channels 11-46 for digital channels in violation of the NBTC’s rule on digital TV channel numbering.
It was fined Bt20,000 a day since January 7 and Bt50,000 a day since February 3. It was also hit with a one-off Bt1 million fine.
After acknowledging the notification letter from True Visions on this matter, the NBTC said it would soon send a letter to the company advising it to use the 1-36 slots on its cable and satellite system by April 7. True Visions has 3.1 million subscribers.
Despite agreeing to switch slots, the company feels that the regulator’s order is unfair and has reserved the right to legally protect its interests and seek compensation for any damages arising from it.
The NBTC’s broadcasting panel also fined MCOT and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) because they failed to install digital TV transmitters at some locations as planned.
Both stations were hit with a daily fine of Bt20,000.
As a result, MCOT will be fined Bt200,000 for the delayed installation of digital TV transmitters at six broadcasting sites while Thai PBS will be fined Bt100,000 for its delay in installing transmitters at two locations.
