MyCommentary....

Countdown to digital TV in Thailand

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission or NBTC which acts as the telecom and broadcasting regulator in Thailand is pushing the conversion from analog to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting in the kingdom, expected to be taken place by end of this year or early next year.

The questions on public participation and accountability were raised among opinion leaders in Bangkok. They express their concern that five commissioners in broadcasting committee will use their absolute power to select inappropriate ones to run new 12 digital public TV channels.


Under the NBTC's broadcasting master plan, of total 48 new digital terrestrial TV channels, it reserves 12 digital TV channels for public service, 24 for commercial TV and the remainder for community-based service. The watchdog aims to reset this Bt70-billion broadcasting industry after granting all 48 digital TV licences by next year. Adding more details on this effort, the NBTC wants to open more door for new potential players coming to this industry which had been dominated by big analog TV operators, BEC's Channel3, Royal Army's TV5, MCOT's Modernine TV and the Public Relation Department (PRD)'s Channel 11 for more than 40 years. 

Royal Army's TV5 aims to

have a licence to run public TV

for national security purpose.

Find more  at www.tv5.co.th

Entering into digital terrestrial TV era, both existing TV broadcasters and new players must acknowledge together that they will run their business under licencing-base regime. 

Currently operating Channel 11 or NBT, 

the PRDalso wants to obtain a licence

 for government and public relation 

channel in digital TV platform

Find more at http://nbttv.prd.go.th/

Before grabbing a licence for public TV channel, each operator must prove itself that its mission and responsibility truly reflects real public interest via a beauty contest judged by the NBTC.  

Ironically, only five commissioners at the NBTC's broadcasting committee will be big guys to decide whom those licences to be granted for. 

Bangkok Entertainment Co. (BEC)

also wishes to join a spectrum

 bid for commercial TV licence. 

Find more at www.thaitv3.com

Civil society groups call for participation into this process for transparency and accountability but no response from the watchdog.



In a part of commercial digital TV section, the watchdog sets to welcome potential TV broadcasters into this TV category through spectrum auction, which is expected to kick off in the last quarter of this year (2013). But details of specification of bidder, starting bid prices and related conditions have not been completed yet. 

Bangkok Broadcasting and TV, 

the country's most popular TV channel

credited by Nielsen media research,

targets to win a licence of variety HD channel.

Find more at www.ch7.com  

Of 24 commercial digital TV channels, there are 7 variety TV in high-definition service; 7 variety TV in standard-definition; 7 news channels and 3 for kid's channels. 

Formerly known as Channel9, 

Modernine TV expects to grab 3 licence

 of variety, news and 

kid's channels. Find more at www.mcot.net 

Digital TV channel for community-based service will be the last category that the NBTC will make it happened. Thai people may see this kind of TV channels in next year. 


Given more advanced technology, more choices to be watched, digital TV broadcasting is expected to bring more benefits to all in the kingdom, I guess. 






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Additional information:

Find more details about 

the first public TV channel

in the Thailand at www.thaipbs.or.th 

Thai Public Broadcasting Service, Thailand's first public TV broadcaster, also will have two licences of public TV channels, including Thai PBS channel for variety programme and Thai PBS Learning Channel for kid's and family channel.