Thailand to control broadcasting content on satellite and cable TV channels

The regulator will focus mainly on satellite and cable TV programming of the 500 satellite TV channels operating on 20 satellite networks across the country.

The measures came after almost all satellite and cable TV operators applied for non-frequency broadcasting licenses by the 16 December deadline ordered by the NBTC.

The licenses are aimed at reorganising non-frequency broadcasting services into a standard system. Companies receiving licenses are strictly required to comply with NBTC broadcasting requirements or the licenses will be revoked.

Non-frequency broadcasting licences are divided into three types, namely facility provider, infrastructure and channel operator. They will be offered for 14 to 15 years.

The licenses do not cover existing free-TV operators including Thai PBS and pay-TV operator TrueVisions, which broadcast on frequency under a concession system.

Tharaputh Charuvatana, MD of UM Thailand, said one reason for the increased restrictions is that the unregulated cable/satellite TV channels have focused on the hard-selling of unethical products, especially health products.

The rules will not have much impact on the free terrestrial TV stations, who hold 50 per cent of ad expenditures, nor on top cable/satellite stations, "where their self-regulations are very strict, complying with FDA rules already at the moment," he added.

Meanwhile, Clint Easthorpe, chief executive officer of OmnicomMediaGroup Thailand, noted that while the regulations can protect the consumers, the two underlying issues of the satellite and cable TV operators are the cost of the license and that content isn’t necessary being watched on TV system due to the convenience to watch programme online.

“There are several fees to pay that some operators cannot afford, and the big threat here is that consumers are going away,” he added. “With all the devices and programmes available online, they can have their own channel and cloud. The way viewers watching content has changed.”

Satellite and cable TV broadcasters in Thailand have long complained the license fees are too high, where the fee percentage is based on gross revenue.

The Satellite Television Association, representing some 200 small satellite TV operators, recently criticised the NBTC's licence fee, saying the charge could be considered as duplication of fees.

The association asked the NBTC to reconsider the fee rate, arguing the fee percentage should based on the number of subscribers each operator instead.