Digital TV coupons slated for October

Digital TV coupons slated for October

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will start distributing digital TV subsidy coupons to 22.9 million households nationwide from the middle of October after a delay of more than four months.

Flashback: This was in June - a forum by a consumers' group, saying that the NBTC was acting much too fast in getting its digital TV subsidy coupons out to the public. Little did they know... (File photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

The project was approved by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Tuesday with a budget of 16 billion baht. Each coupon is valued at 690 baht and limited to one per household.

In the first stage, 11.45 million coupons will be distributed to families in 45 provinces via Thailand Post's mailing service by the end of this year. Households in 23 provinces such as Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Rayong, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Sing Buri, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Sukhothai are expected to receive the coupons by Oct 25.

After that, households in another 22 provinces will gradually get their coupons.

In the second phase, the remaining 11.45 million households in 32 provinces will receive the coupons in 2015 and 2016. The coupon distributions are meant to align with digital TV network coverage.

Takorn Tantasith, the NBTC secretary-general, said the regulator is set to spend 8 billion baht for the coupon scheme this year, with the budget coming from the first payment worth 11.9 billion baht made by digital TV licence holders.

The coupons have a six-month validity and will be sent to the house owner (based on the list of household registrations held by the Interior Ministry). The coupons can be used to buy digital TV set-top boxes or TVs with built-in antenna that receive digital signals. Each digital set-top box has a two-year warranty. If buyers find their set-top boxes are not functioning properly, they can exchange them for a new one within 30 days after purchase. 

The NBTC predicted 20% of the 22.9 million households will not use the coupons.

To ensure distribution transparency, the NBTC will set up a subcommittee comprising government agencies, independent organisations and NGOs to oversee this project.

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