Few have the know-how to access new digital terrestrial
The rollout of digital terrestrial TV networks by the Army, MCOT and the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) are close to being in line with their respective second-year plans but most people still lack the knowledge to access this new broadcastin
"This reflects that the public relations [campaign] on how to use the digital TV set-top box with an antenna still remains weak although approximately 80 per cent of the total 22.3 million households in the Kingdom can access terrestrial-based digital TV programmes," Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the Broadcasting Committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), said yesterday.
This finding was the result of the survey conducted by a joint committee that included representatives from the NBTC, 24 digital TV stations and the four digital TV network providers and academics. The joint committee is examining the quality of digital TV signals transmitted by the four national digital TV network providers to make sure people can fully access digital TV programmes.
Supinya said that although the rollout plans of those digital TV network providers in the second year were a bit behind schedule, it was acceptable to the NBTC and the digital TV operators because the Army, MCOT and Thai PBS have committed to complete their second-year plans by the end of this month. Under this current stage, each one of those providers must install transmitters at 39 main broadcasting towers and at eight relay sites.
Colonel Bundit Sangon, director of the digital-TV-network providing services at Royal Thai Amy Radio and Television, said that by the end of this month all transmitters at the 39 main sites and at seven relay sites would be ready as planned.
Thanakorn Suksai, manager of engineering planning and information at Thai PBS, said that after the installation of three new transmitters at additional relay sites in Bueng Kan, Uttaradit and Si Sa Ket this month, Thai PBS’ digital TV network would cover 80 per cent of the total households as planned.
"The key problem is that people living in the service areas do lack the knowledge to use an antenna with a digital TV receiver to watch digital TV programmes after they get the set-top box. We must do something to help them in this regard, said Thawatchai Jittrapanun, an NBTC commissioner.
In response to this problem, Supinya said that her committee would conduct another survey to examine viewing patterns via different platforms such as cable TV, satellite TV and digital TV.
In line with this, the NBTC Office will next week start a selection process for a public relation agency to handle a Bt63-million national campaign to raise public awareness and understanding about the digital TV broadcasting service after two delays last year.
Supinya hopes the campaign will help people gain a better understanding of the digital TV service and how to watch digital TV programmes via digital terrestrial receivers along with cable/satellite TV receivers.
Apart from this key issue, the broadcasting regulator will also set up an advisory team that will include experts and academics to study a revision of network leasing fees proposed by the digital TV network providers. This new study aims to help reduce transmission costs incurred by new digital TV operators.
Another issue involves the watchdog working with the national digital TV networks to set a guideline and road map for the analog switch-over process, which is another key step to complete the transition to the digital TV era by 2020. The guidelines and roadmap are expected to finish within a couple of months.
