Digital TV operators have urged the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to come up with an action plan to help them survive.
The NBTC's working committee held the first meeting with 24 digital TV channel operators to find ways to help them deal with difficulties stemming from the bumpy transition to digital TV.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said 24 digital TV operators demanded the regulator help them with 10 issues which they hope the NBTC can address by the end of next month.
Among the issues are the delay of the third instalment of auction fees on May 22, the extension of the digital TV channel licence period from 15 years, and licence suspension if operators post poor financial performances.
The digital TV operators demand the regulator pay compensation for its failure to facilitate the smooth transition to digital broadcasting.
Moreover, they insist the regulator forces all TV platform operators to follow the channel numbering rule, speed up the distribution of the remaining subsidy coupons, push for the multiplatform TV rating, build public awareness about digital TV, reduce payments for the USO fund, and reduce expenses caused by the must-carry rule.
"If the regulator doesn't allow us to delay payment of the third auction fee instalment, some of us may not survive," said Adisak Limparungpatanakij, president of Nation Broadcasting Corporation.
Thai TV Co's two channels, Loca and Thai TV, went off air on Dec 1. The company has reported losses of 300 million baht.
In another development, CAT Telecom Plc said it would grant local cable TV operators use of its fibre-optic network for free if they want to broadcast on the high-definition (HD) system.
The move came after CAT Telecom reached an agreement with the NBTC to provide the cable TV infrastructure to help the transition to digital TV since December last year.
CAT Telecom acting president Col Sappachai Huwanant said if local cable TV operators could offer their customers additional services such as HD channels and broadband internet, they would see a rise in revenue and thrive in the long term.
"The NBTC is supporting this as it will help boost the prospects of the cable TV business," said Thawatchai Jittrapanun, a commissioner of the NBTC.
If they can access the fibre-optic network, more bandwidth will be available for data transfer and offer higher acceleration, he said.
Higher bandwidth will definitely offer better picture quality and HD resolution. Improved technology will help cable TV operators maintain their customer base.
Vichit Aearevorakul, managing director of Charoen Ying (8888) Co, said CAT Telecom's fibre-optic network is now 80% ready for the cable TV operation.
"I hope both local cable TV operators and CAT will benefit from this project and if it can operate smoothly, it will be better for the cable TV industry in the long term," he said.