The broadcasting regulator should find a more effective measure to help Thai households receive digital TV signals, instead of subsidising them to buy new digital television sets or set-top boxes.
Thailand is transitioning from an analogue TV system to a digital one. PANUMAS SANGUANWONG
The country is transitioning to a digital TV system that will not fit with old sets designed for the analogue system.
If consumers buy new digital TV sets, how many old sets will become electronic junk, said Nattaphong Areekul, Toshiba Thailand vice-president and director.
Mr Nattaphong made his comment after the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission decided to give discount coupons to 22 million households to buy new TV sets or set-top boxes to receive digital TV signals.
The discount coupon is similar to a populist policy and would boost the sales of TVs but only for a short period.
The executive is worried that consumers might be confused over how to use the coupons, similar to when flood-hit victims received a 2,000-baht coupon to buy electrical appliances as a state relief measure.
There are other more efficient ways to help viewers receive digital signals, such as modifying existing set-top boxes.
However, if the government announces the advent of digital TV broadcasting, Toshiba is ready to a launch digital TV sets on the market because the company has such products available in several countries.
Yukiharu Adachi, president of Toshiba, said that he is optimistic about Thailand's overall electrical appliance market this year.
Toshiba is set to spend about 500 million baht promoting appliances this year. About half of the budget will be used to promote Toshiba's new Twist refrigerator line.
Mr Adachi said the Thai-designed Twist series can accommodate different lifestyles and has innovations designed to appeal to customers.