Digital TV players seek Section 44 solution

Digital TV players seek Section 44 solution

Digital TV operators have urged the state to invoke Section 44 to tackle the sector's financial difficulties. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH
Digital TV operators have urged the state to invoke Section 44 to tackle the sector's financial difficulties. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH

The Association of Digital TV Operators has once again urged the government to invoke Section 44 to accelerate the industry's reform and provide timely financial relief to terrestrial digital TV operators.

In a public forum held yesterday by Chulalongkorn University, the association called on the state to revise the existing broadcasting laws and regulations to reflect the fast-changing broadcasting ecosystem.

The revisions are critical to enable operators to continue their business, but will not be implemented in time under a normal legal framework, said association president Suphap Kleekachai.

Mr Suphap said the seminar was a public forum to raise awareness of the industry's need for government support.

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha indirectly acknowledged the association's need for help, but the association has to clarify the source of the problem," he said.

Previously, the association submitted its proposal via Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krua-ngam, asking for help to ease the situation in two main categories.

The association first requested the elimination of broadcasting networks rental fee or MUX (which is due in January 2018), as well as to waive the remaining licence payments after the May 2018 payment, and to allow operators to exit the business. These are the most urgent requests, according the association.

Next, the association, along with other related broadcasting associations, asked the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to review the frequency allocation law and the Broadcasting Act of 2008.

Mr Suphap said the prime minister should address the urgent needs of the association and amend the laws to help the broadcasting and telecom sectors keep pace with the convergence era.

"The failure of the terrestrial digital TV business was caused by a six month delay of free set-top-box distribution to viewers, the impractical capacity of the MUX network and an oversupply of channels," he said.

"It's too late and useless for the NBTC and TV operators to blame each other. We need to move forward [and tackle] the situation," said Mr Suphap.

He said the current ecosystem will also be impacted by other fast-changing broadcasting platforms, in particular by social media networks like YouTube and Facebook.

"Even if there were no broadcasting license bidding and annual fee payments, I think it would be hard to find new players to invest in new TV stations in the country," said Mr Suphap.

It is only reasonable that the government allow existing digital TV operators to exit from the business as they have already paid a combined 34 billion, more than twice the NBTC's original 15 billion target. Moreover, the NBTC failed to distribute set-top-boxes as planned, he said.

Sorajak Kasemsuvan, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at Chulalongkorn University, said the NBTC had failed to create public awareness of "real digital TV technology." The terrestrial digital TV switchover roadmap does not only include auctions and distribution of set-top-boxes, but also the continuous creation of public awareness.

The number of TV users in the UK dropped only 25% after the digital TV transformation, he said.

Khemmathat Paladesh, president of MCOT, said existing laws and the regulator's authority are handicapping the digital TV industry.

Pana Thongmeearkom, a lecturer at the university's Faculty of Mass Communication, said supporting digital TV operators is critical, since they have a large influence on the domestic economy, society and culture.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT