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| The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission of Thailand |
In a bid to ensure that almost 7 million satellite-TV viewers have access to live broadcasts of the Summer Olympic Games in London, the National Broad-casting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) yesterday approved "must carry" rules, which will be put before a public hearing on July 16.
The aim is to announce the regulations in the Royal Gazette before the Games begin on July 27.
Of 22 million households nationwide, about 6.8 million that watch free-TV programmes via satellite receivers are currently at risk of missing out on the Olympics after TV Pool and the Public Relations Department's National Broadcasting Television (NBT) said they had acquired the rights from the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to broadcast using a terrestrial signal only.
The TV Pool comprises |BEC's ThaiTV3, the Army's TV5, BBTV's Channel7 and MCOT's Modernine TV.
"The coming must-carry rules will considerably guarantee Thais' basic right to access all free-to-air TV content in the Kingdom, without any conditions," Natee Sukon-rat, chairman of the NBTC's broadcasting committee, said.
With the panel having approved the draft rules, they will go before a public hearing at Century Park Hotel during the afternoon of July 16. The revised draft will then be submitted for NTBC approval on July 18, before the regulations are announced in the Royal Gazette.
Under the must-carry rules, transmission frequencies for radio or television broadcasting and telecommunication are considered national resources for the public interest.
Therefore, free-to-air TV operators must be responsible for providing public broadcasting services across the country on any |platform.
Moreover, those companies that hold media rights to such events as the quadrennial Euro soccer tournament must be aware of this regulation before striking any deals with free-TV operators.
The must-carry rules are expected to be imposed on both existing analog terrestrial television channels and coming digital services.
Once the NBTC issues licences for digital TV broadcasting, network providers must carry public broadcasting services, such as NBT and ThaiPBS. However, network providers will be able to select commercial channels voluntarily.
Meanwhile, Supinya Klangna-rong, the NBTC member in the watchdog's subcommittee for consumer protection, has discussed the issue with Prime Minister's Office Minister Woravat Auapinyakul, whose office is responsible for overseeing NBT, in a bid to open negotiations with the ABU over extending the current rights or acquiring further rights to broadcast via satellite TV, if needed.
Speaking as chairman of TV Pool, Lt-General Chatchai Sari-kulya, president of the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station, last week confirmed that the pool would bring the main live competition during the Olympics to all Thais, as its members had done four years ago when the Games were held in Beijing.
In a separate matter, the NBTC's broadcasting committee yesterday also approved the draft authority to import, produce and distribute set-top boxes to pay-television operators, as well as draft regulations governing licences for digital terrestrial broadcasting for three types of licences - for providers of infrastructure, networks and services.
Natee said the two drafts would go before a public hearing soon, and would come into effect within the next couple of months.
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION July 10, 2012 1:00 am
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