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Boost seen from switch to digital TV

Watchiranont Thongtep

The Nation

Transformation could inject Bt40 bn through supply chain investments

BANGKOK: -- The coming transformation from analog to digital terrestrial television broadcasting led by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) is estimated to boost the economy by more than Bt40 billion in the related supply chain, a forum was told.

To mark the 12th anniversary of Thailand's first 24-hour news station, Nation Broadcasting Corporation's Nation Channel yesterday held a business forum called "Nation Channel: Digital Media Landscape 2012", where media experts and professionals gathered. The event aimed to promote understanding of the coming developments in the broadcasting and telecommunication industries after the NBTC implements all of its regulations.

Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC's broadcasting committee, said the regulations governing licences for digital terrestrial broadcasting must be completed by this year. Four types of licences will be issued, for providers for infrastructure, networks, content and application services.

Natee said the watchdog planned to grant its first licence for infrastructure providers by August, while operating licences for network and content providers would be auctioned next year.

Prapat Rathlertkarn, deputy secretary-general of the Thai Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication Industries Association (TETA), estimated that entering the digital-TV era would drive the economy from new business, valued at more than Bt40 billion, during this transformation, estimated to take about five to six years after the implementation of broadcasting regulations. An infrastructure provider needs to invest at least Bt10 billion in broadcasting towers and facilities, replacing existing analog equipment.

Meanwhile producers will also focus on creating more quality TV programmes to fill the new digital channels, which will increase as much as tenfold thanks to the advantages of digital technology. Prapat projected that this process would create more jobs into the industry and generate new business, worth about Bt10 billion.

Prapat added that manufacturers of digital-compatible TV sets and set-top boxes would also benefit. It is estimated that this manufacturing sector will be boosted by more than Bt20 billion in investment.

However, though it is believed this transformation can open more doors for the industry, media enterprises are concerned about some uncertainties.

Ekachai Phakdurong, vice president for corporate affairs at Thaicom, which is interested in bidding for licences for infrastructure development and for operating digital TV channels, suggested that the NBTC must ensure a balance between cross-media ownership and fair competition, because many major players want to take part in this process.

Sudharma Yoonaidharma, dean of the school of law and chairman of the Academy of Enterprises and Public Policy and Regulation, said that though the NBTC has responsibility over broadcasting rules and regulations, it should stay away from censorship of content. It should promote self-regulation among content producers instead.

To help small and medium-sized media enterprises survive during the transformation, Amonphat Chomrat, managing director at television production firm Next Step, suggested that the NBTC conduct specific rating measurements for quality content producers.

-- The Nation 2012-06-23

What infrastructure do they need? If its like Europe then the digital channels will be sent from the same transmitters as analog, although some adjustment of transmitting power is required.

More channels means less viewers per channel which means less advertising revenue. So I don't see where huge profits will come from, although there is opportunity for small specialist channels to flourish. If its like the UK people will still mainly watch the main channels and you will end up with lots of time shift channels.

From wikipedia:

4 of the 6 Bangkok TV channels are VHF, the other two are UHF.

TV3 and Thai PBS are UHF

TV5, BBTV 7, Modernine 9 and NBT 11 are VHF

So four of the 6 will need to get into (new) gear as the start is slated to be 2013 with analogue cutoff in 2015.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_in_Thailand