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Cable TV operators sue NBTC over Channel 3 ban
Five provincial cable-TV operators have filed a lawsuit over the broadcasting regulator’s decision to order them to remove Channel 3 from their services.
A Central Administrative Court source said Teerapol Kanchanakart, a legal representative appointed by the operators, submitted the lawsuit yesterday in a bid to have the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s “unfair” decision reversed.
The defendants in the case are the three NBTC commissioners who supported dropping Channel 3’s highly popular programmes from cable and satellite TV because they are in the old analog format, while the commission is pushing the TV industry towards digital.
The defendants are Peerapong Manakit, Thawatchai Jittrapanun and Supinya Klangnarong.
The source said the court would study the lawsuit before deciding whether to accept it.
The complainants are Mahasarakam Cable TV Network, James Cable TV Network, CTH Bangkok, J Cable TV, and ICT.
They claimed that without Channel 3, their businesses would be severely affected.
Tax collection 8.2% below target
The Revenue Department has reported Bt1.88 trillion in tax revenue in 11 months of the 2014 fiscal year, 8.2 per cent – or Bt168.35 billion – below the target.
The low figure has been mainly attributed to a decline in imports, which led to lower revenue from import tariffs and value-added tax.
Corporate-tax collections were also below the target amid continuing weak domestic demand and the sluggish economy.
According to Krisada Chinavicharana, Fiscal Policy Office director-general, weak demand for vehicles nationwide and the extension of the time frame for the low diesel tax were also contributing sectors.
However, Krisada said tax revenue from state enterprises and other state agencies exceeded expectations.
The director-general expects the economy to improve next year as confidence is restored, which should contribute to higher tax revenue for the 2015 fiscal year.
