A group of small and medium-sized satellite-television broadcasters told a seminar yesterday they were concerned about the high licence fees soon to be imposed on all satellite TV providers by the regulator.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission has determined that licensed operators earning more than Bt5 million a month must pay it 2 per cent of gross annual revenue, plus another 2 per cent to support a research-and-development fund.
While the NBTC has agreed to cut the licence fee to 1.5 per cent of gross income for those below the Bt5-million cap, that reduction is not enough, operators said.
The issue was raised by representatives from 150 satellite TV operators at a seminar about the future of their industry organised by Thaicom.
The NBTC has set a deadline for existing cable and satellite TV operators, which number about 1,000 nationwide, to apply for licences by December 15, while there is no deadline for newcomers. Unlicensed operators face five years' imprisonment or a Bt5-million fine, or both, plus a Bt50,000 daily fine until they comply with the rules.
Dew Waratangtagoon, managing director for platform strategy at GMM Z, the satellite TV subsidiary of GMM Grammy, said these costs would hit small and medium-sized operators hard.
He suggested that the NBTC design another licence for free-to-air satellite TV operators, separate from those for operators offering pay-TV.
Nation Broadcasting Corporation president Adisak Limprungpatanakij said the media landscape had changed. Most people across the country now can access both free and satellite TV nationwide, and almost 65 per cent of the nation's 22 million households have satellite dishes, while the number using traditional antennas is in decline.
Speaking on behalf of an expert in broadcasting engineering, MCOT executive vice president Sura Gaintanasilp said: "Digital terrestrial TV broadcasting is about to begin while the development of cable and satellite TV in the country moves faster. The NBTC should therefore help cable and satellite TV operators survive during this transformation."
Suphajee Suthumpun, Thaicom chairman and chief executive officer, said the commission should support the industry's free and fair competition, particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, and encourage local operators to adopt the new technology to improve the quality of content and transmission.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/11/17/planned-licence-fees-too-high-for-smaller-satellite-tv/
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