Thai TV declines 2 digital licences
May 26, 2015
By Chris Forrester
Digital broadcasting in Thailand is having something of a tough time in making channels pay. Thai TV, for example, is reported by The Nation newspaper, of having decided to close two of its new digital channels.
On May 25th Thai TV submitted a formal request to the country’s National Broadcast regulator to close two channels, Thai TV which transmits news and Loco, a family channel.
May 25th was a key date in that all digital broadcasters were obliged to pay a second instalment of their digital licences. The regulator said that 22 of the newly licensed 24 digital channels had correctly paid their second instalments on time. Officially, all broadcasters have to pay, in full, their licence fees whether or not they continue transmissions.
Thai TV is saying that the regulator has failed to organise a smooth transition from analogue to digital.