NBTC urged to change fee system

NBTC urged to change fee system

Digital TV coupons have been distributed to households in Thailand to encourage the switching from analogue to digital TV system. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Digital TV coupons have been distributed to households in Thailand to encourage the switching from analogue to digital TV system. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Digital TV operators have called on the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to change the collection of digital TV licence fees to a flat rate throughout the 15-year period.

The Radio and Television Broadcasting Professional Federation (RTBPF) on Monday submitted a letter to the NBTC on behalf of digital TV operators.

They also want to delay the 2% payment to the universal service obligation fund.

Meanwhile, the regulator wants to update the second licence fee payment of 24 digital TV operators, which is due in May, before making a decision.

RTBPF president Chamnan Siritan said digital TV operators wanted the flat-rate licence fee because they were affected by the delay in the digital TV subsidy coupon distribution scheme and the lack of a national campaign to build awareness among the public.

The RTBPF also wants the NBTC to consider extending the licence term to 20 years from 15 in order to compensate for loss of opportunities caused by the delayed subsidy voucher distribution.

"The flat-rate licence fee is a better scheme, one that will not create a heavy financial burden for digital TV operators during the first few years of operations," Ms Chamnan said.

Currently, the licence fee will be paid in six payments. Digital TV auction winners will pay the reserved price of the digital TV licence in four parts — 50% in the first year, 30% in the second, 10% in the third and 10% in the fourth.

For the surplus, they will pay six times — 10% in the first and second years and then 20% in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth.

Ms Chamnan said the RTBPF also wanted the NBTC to reconsider the conditions of digital TV voucher redemption to cover satellite TV set-top boxes, the main platform for TV viewing among Thais.

NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said the regulator would submit a letter to the Council of State and the Finance Ministry asking them to consider an extension of the digital TV licence fee payment, which is expected to be clarified next month.

The second payment of the digital TV licence fee is worth 8 billion baht.

Mr Takorn said the NBTC would bring these proposals for consideration at tomorrow's board meeting.

Last November, the NBTC approved a one-year extension of digital TV licence fee payment, which is due this May, but the proposal has not been finalised and approved by the Council of State and the Finance Ministry.

This means the payment due date remains unchanged, a major concern for digital operators.

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