NBTC to Finalise New Digital TV Roadmap/National Streaming Plan

Picture courtesy of Workpoint 

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is preparing to decide on a new Digital TV Roadmap that could reshape Thailand’s media landscape for the first time in a decade, with immediate implications for broadcasters and online platforms. The meetings on 9 and 11 December are expected to address the future of digital terrestrial television ahead of licence expiries in 2029, alongside the development of a National Streaming Platform, OTT regulation, a nationwide emergency warning system and accessibility standards for disabled audiences. Industry groups say the decisions could redefine television as a basic public right delivered both over the air and via the internet.

The roadmap under review, covering 2026 - 2030, sets out long-term plans for Thailand’s broadcasting sector as it prepares for terrestrial TV licences to expire in 2029. It focuses on three major areas: regulatory reforms for the television industry, measures to support competition and business structures, and consumer protection standards. Elements include new Must Carry rules, cross-platform channel numbering, 3500 MHz spectrum planning for future technologies, support for network operators and inclusive design requirements.

A key proposal is the creation of a National Streaming Platform enabling viewers to watch terrestrial TV online without antennas, set-top boxes or satellite dishes, regardless of their internet provider. This would rely on a Multi-CDN Platform designed to deliver equal access nationwide. According to sources, 11 projects related to this infrastructure have already been approved under the 2023 - 2025 USO plan, supported by the NBTC’s research and development fund to equip MUX operators with the necessary hardware and APIs.

The NBTC will also consider plans for a nationwide Emergency Warning System (EWS) that would allow all TV channels to issue automatic alerts using a Broadcast Override system. This system would link to a central API and may later extend to online platforms connected to the National Streaming Platform. Officials intend for the EWS to function across broadcast, IPTV and online services so all media are responsible for disseminating emergency alerts.

Another major agenda item is the draft regulation for OTT broadcasting, developed alongside a multi-agency committee led by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency under the 2022 Digital Platform Services Act. The regulatory approach emphasises transparency, fairness, competition, and consumer protection rather than content control. For the first time, global platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Netflix and VIU would be required to comply with Thai consumer-protection obligations.

Workpoint reported that the roadmap also aims to strengthen media accessibility for disabled audiences through live captioning, accessibility APIs and mandatory compatibility on all streaming platforms, funded by the NBTC’s development fund. The Digital TV Association believes the adoption of these measures would mark the biggest shift in Thailand’s media industry in ten years, as television moves from a broadcast-only environment into a hybrid system directly competing with global streaming services. It adds that media would increasingly serve as a public service rather than a purely commercial product.

Key Takeaways

• The NBTC is set to decide on a roadmap that will redefine Thailand’s television structure before terrestrial licences expire in 2029.

• Proposals include a National Streaming Platform, nationwide emergency alerts, OTT regulation, and new consumer-accessibility standards.

• Industry groups say approval would mark the largest media transformation in a decade as TV shifts to a hybrid broadcast-streaming model.

 Adapted by Asean Now from Workpointnews 2025-12-11