Channel 7, NBTC battle in court
The imposition of licence fees on analog TV operators has become a new flashpoint of contention between the broadcasting regulator and the country's leading television station, Channel 7, as it fears it might be double-charged.
Yesterday the Central Administrative Court held its first hearing on the petition filed in July by Bangkok Broadcasting and Television, the operator of analog terrestrial-based Channel 7.
BBTV had complained that the regulation issued by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to levy fees for broadcasting services was unfair, as under its television concession with the Army, it already had to pay a fee to the Army.
It claimed there was no need to pay more fees under the NBTC’s licence-based regime.
Under the Broadcasting Service Act, a holder of a state broadcasting concession will be protected until its concession term expires. The concession holder will also get a fee waiver from the NBTC.
Last year BBTV and Bangkok Entertainment Co, the operator of analog Channel 3, asked for further clarification of this fee-waiving issue if they obtained a licence to operate an analog terrestrial TV channel, but there still has been no answer.
Supinya Klangnarong, an NBTC member, said yesterday that under another broadcasting act, the NBTC was obligated to collect fees from both analog and digital terrestrial broadcasting licence holders.
Under the NBTC’s fee regulation, a licence holder must pay 2 per cent of its gross income as an annual licence fee and 2 per cent for a research and development fund for broadcasting.
