Last week, by opening registration for licenses for network and service providers, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission kicked off the regulation process for cable and satellite TV operators.

Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC's Broadcast Committee, in a meeting with television companies, stated that this month, the commission expected to grant the first licenses for network and service providers to cable and satellite TV operators.

This is an attempt to bring about 1,000 cable and satellite TV operators under the broadcasting laws. There are about 500 each of cable and satellite TV operators. Of all cable TV operators, there are about 20 network providers. 

The NBTC started a two-day registration process on Nov. 2, at the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road. The NBTC gave advice to all those operators that attended the event and the operators could apply for pay-TV licenses.

Vilasinee Jiwanon, GMM Z deputy chief executive, mentioned that for 10 satellite TV channels and 10 pay-TV channels, her company was prepared to apply for network and service-provider licenses. GMM Z is the satellite TV subsidiary of media and entertainment giant GMM Grammy. Natin Broadcasting Corp. was also ready to become a licensed service provider, stated Adisak Limprungpatanakij, president of Nation Broadcasting Corp.

Image via Shutterstock

Natee concluded that since analog terrestrial TV broadcasters such as BEC's ThaiTV3, the Army's TV5, BBTV Channel 7, MCOT's Modernine TV, the Public Relations Department's NBT and Thai Public Broadcast Service, as well as subscription-based operators like TrueVisions, were under concession contracts, it undergo a separate process.

In January, the NBTC expects to grant licenses for infrastructure and network providers and operating licenses for digital TV for public purposes. In April, it plans to begin the bidding for operating licenses for commercial digital TV.


Edited by Rachel Ramsey