The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has reduced the value of digital TV subsidy vouchers to 690 baht from 1,000 baht to avoid legal disputes with consumer groups.
Secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said the vouchers could be used only for digital set-top boxes and TV sets with built-in tuners. They will be distributed to 22.9 million households registered in the Provincial Administration Department database.
Coupon distribution will start in September for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima. The telecom regulator plans to distribute the coupons to 11 million households by year-end, with distribution to the rest of the country completed within three years.
The Office of the Auditor-General suggested the vouchers be distributed only to people who submit their requests at local administration offices.
Set-top box makers or TV producers wanting to join the subsidy scheme must meet a minimum requirement imposed by the NBTC including a bank guarantee, registered capital, sales points and a two-year warranty.
The NBTC’s conclusion on the scheme will be submitted to the National Council for Peace and Order next Wednesday for final approval.
The project will use 15.8 billion baht from the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for the Public Interest, while its operational cost of 150 million baht will be covered by the NBTC.
Mr Takorn said the vouchers will be distributed to households via registered mail, which will specify the home address and the owner's ID number. Homeowners or proxies must identify themselves when they want to use coupons.
"We expect about 20% of households will not use the coupons," he said.
If the 690-baht voucher is not enough to cover the cost, viewers must pay the difference themselves. However, fierce market competition is likely to reduce the price of a set-top box including an active antenna.
Vachara Vacharaphol, chief executive of Triple V Broadcast Co, the operator of Thairath TV, said viewers would find it difficult to use the 690-baht coupon to get high-quality TV, particularly high-definition channels that required additional equipment.
Meanwhile, RS Plc, the rights holder for the recent Fifa World Cup, is pressing the NBTC to pay the remaining 309 million baht to help it shoulder the cost of broadcasting all 64 matches on free TV. It received 118 million baht on July 3.
"The regulator should pay us this month. We have too many burdens from broadcasting all World Cup matches and opportunity losses from the rapid change of business plan," said chief executive Surachai Chetchotisak.