BEC Multimedia compensated for return of digital TV licences
BEC Multimedia today (October 1) received compensations from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) after the return of its terrestrial digital TV broadcasting licences for 3SD Channel 28 and Family Channel 13.
The regulator paid more than Bt661.625 million to 3SD Channel 28 and over Bt158.604 million to Family Channel 13.
Both channels went off the air at midnight, September 30 and BEC Multimedia is now left with only one digital TV channel, Channel 33.
In early May this year, six digital TV broadcasters informed the regulator of their intention to hand back the seven licences they had secured from the NBTC. The NBTC, then set May 10 as the deadline for the broadcasters to declare their final decisions.
The six opting to return the licences were Spring News Television Co Ltd ( Spring News Channel 19) and Nation Multimedia Group ( Spring 26, formerly NOW26), Bright TV (Channel 20), Voice TV (Channel 21), MCOT (Family Channel 14) and BEC Multimedia (Family Channel 13 and 3SD Channel 28).
Family Channel 13 and 3SD Channel 28 were the last two stations going off the air.
NBTC awarded 24 commercial digital TV licences via auction on December 2013, amassing around Bt50.862 billion in bid payments. The15-year licences became valid from April 25, 2014.
Later, some broadcasters found it difficult to survive due to unfavourable market conditions and fierce competition from online media channels, prompting the return of their operation licences.
The exits mean there are 15 digital TV channels left in the market.
