Thailand wants more DTT channels
March 22, 2013
By Chris Forrester
Thailand has looked again at how it will structure its various digital TV multiplexes. The end result is a new auction process for a total of 24 channels will now comprise: 7 in HD, 7 news channels in standard definition, and a total of 24 commercial DTT channels. However, increasing the HD and news sector means that the number of ‘variety’ channels will be reduced from 10 to 7, and kids channels fall from 5 to 3.
The country´s regulator National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) has come up with the new structure. Potential auction bidders are emerging with their plans. One operator, RS, has invested in 4 satellite TV channels and plans to bid for variety channels either in HD or in SD format. Another operator, MCOT, states that the firm is revising their business plan for commercial DTT bidding based on NBTC´s new changes. Workpoint Entertainment said the company was ready to bid for two licences in the ‘children’ or ‘variety’ sectors in the HD or SD channel categories.