Panel approves change to licence-fee collection
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TO HELP struggling TV broadcasters, the Broadcasting Committee yesterday approved a revision in the collection of their annual licence fee.
Pakdee Manaves, deputy secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said the change was from a fixed rate of 2 per cent of gross income to a sliding scale.
The NBTC will invite all radio and TV broadcasters and broadcasting platform providers to brainstorm on this matter at a public hearing soon.
The scale rises from 0.5 per cent of gross income from zero to Bt5 million, 0.75 per cent for more than Bt5 million to Bt50 million, 1 per cent for more than Bt50 million to Bt500 million and 1.75 per cent for Bt500 million-Bt1 billion to 2 per cent for more than Bt1 billion.
This revision appears to be a relief measure for some digital terrestrial TV broadcasters that are facing financial difficulties amid intense competition and the transition from analog to digital TV, which is expected to be completed in two years.
Besides the licence fee, broadcasting licensees are also required to contribute 2 per cent of their gross income to the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for the Public Interest.
To support those ailing digital TV operators, the Broadcasting Committee recently agreed to grant a fee reduction for transmission expenses incurred during cable and satellite TV broadcasting under the regulator’s must-carry rule.
