Channel 3, NBTC to discuss settlement at meeting today

Channel 3, NBTC to discuss settlement at meeting today

Smoothing the path for digital migration

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is seeking a solution to help Channel 3 migrate to digital via a simulcast and cut its fixed costs, especially concession fees, in a bid to foster fair play.

"We must help Channel 3 to migrate its content to air digitally by offering possible incentives," said Col Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC's broadcasting committee.

Natee: Compromise the preferred method

Bangkok Entertainment Co, the concession holder of Channel 3, must pay MCOT Plc 200-250 million baht a year as a concession fee until 2020.

At the same time, Bangkok Entertainment parent BEC World Plc must pay licence fees to the NBTC for three digital TV channels.

This means that if Channel 3 airs its content digitally via a simulcast, it faces considerable expenses for operating one channel.

The other broadcasters, meanwhile, pay only digital TV licence fees.

Channel 3's proposed solution is to migrate its content to the digital terrestrial platform.

The NBTC could set the same payment conditions for existing and new TV operators, but Channel 3 would have to do something in exchange to join the speedy process of moving to digital.

"As the regulator, we should lead the regulation scheme by having negotiations and seeking a compromise," Col Natee said.

If the row is brought to court, the digital transition could be delayed.

Channel 3 has filed a complaint with the Central Administrative Court to get a ruling on whether it still has free TV status.

The NBTC will meet representatives of Channel 3 today to discuss the dispute. Without a settlement, the channel could go dark as early as Sept 27.

Channel 3 wants the NBTC to revise a broadcasting committee resolution that asked satellite and cable operators to prohibit the broadcast of analogue Channel 3 within 15 days of the order.

In related news, the NBTC is letting analogue Channel 3 air the Asian Games even though it now lacks free TV status, along with Channel 33 HD.

This way, the 30% of Thai households who still watch TV via the terrestrial analogue system can enjoy the games.

The approval came in response to a request by the Television Pool of Thailand, whose members include analogue Channels 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.

"We want to make sure that Thais can watch the Asian Games live on many platforms including analogue, digital and pay TV," Col Natee said.

Apart from free TV, TrueVisions won the pay TV rights to broadcast the Asian Games.

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