Tune into the future
Play
NBTC chairman Natee Sukonrat says that a new era in broadcasting is about to begin as Thailand starts the switch to digital TV transmission.
Colonel Natee Sukonrat, vice chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecom Commission (NBTC), is spearheading Thailand’s bid to switch from analogue to digital TV broadcasting.
The country will start testing digital TV transmission later this year, a move that will drastically transform the country’s broadcasting industry, with at least 50 new free TV channels to be added using the existing radio frequencies.
Details of the switchover plan from the current analogue technology to digital transmission will be announced by the end of this year.
Digital broadcasting will lead to a more efficient use of the spectrum, resulting in the availability of many more free TV channels compared to only a few, currently – namely channels 3, 5,7, 9, 11 and Thai PBS.
The quality of digital TV transmission is also much better than the current analogue system, and it will allow both high-definition and standard-definition broadcasting, as well as three-dimensional or 3D broadcasting, and mobile and Internet-based TV.
Dr Natee said: “We currently use one frequency for one analogue TV programme. For digital broadcasting, there can be up to 20 more channels using the same single radio frequency.
“In other words, there will be at least an additional 50-60 new TV channels in the next few years as Thailand starts the process of switching from analogue to digital broadcasting, allowing consumers more choices as well as lowering TV transmission cost.”
The national digital broadcasting infrastructure, which will be upgraded from the existing one, will cost an estimated Bt10-20 billion and will be shared by varying content producers.
During the transition period, which will take up to 10 years, the existing analogue broadcasters will continue their business until their contracts expire.
There will be simultaneous analogue and digital broadcasting during this period until the switch-off.
According to Dr Natee, the NBTC will invite bids for licenses to operate the 50 new TV channels, which will be divided into three groups.
The first group of 10 channels is aimed at community services, while the second group of 10-15 channels will be for public services. The third group of 20-30 channels will be for business-oriented or commercial services.
“There will be a lot of new players. It will be UHF transmission but most TV sets in Thailand will need an additional set-top box to get the signals. Production of the set-top boxes will be partly subsidised by the NBTC.
“We hope to start testing digital transmission by this year’s end, using the available frequencies. Operators of analogue channels can also apply for digital broadcasting licenses.
“In the end, competition among all TVs, digital, analogue, cable and satellite will be centred on content.
“People will switch to the ones that have the better content. There will be more content choices, better quality and more new services such as interactive TV,” he said.
In 2015, Thailand will join the Asean Economic Community, a single market and production base of 580 million people.
Under the AEC framework, the services sector will be liberalised, but broadcasting is not included. Yet some of Thailand’s TV content is already popular in neighbouring countries.
Dr Natee said digital broadcasting will further improve the quality of TV transmission from Thailand to neighbouring countries and boost the country’s competitiveness.
“Even though, we are one of the last Asean countries that still uses analogue TV transmission, we will speed up to catch up with the rest.”
