NBTC allows one year reprieve for 8.7 billion baht digital TV licence fee payment

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NBTC allows one year reprieve for 8.7 billion baht digital TV licence fee payment



BANGKOK: -- Digital TV operators are allowed to put off a combined 8.7 billion baht fee payment to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for a year as a reprieve of their financial burden.

NBTC secretary–general Takorn Tantasith said the NBTC board has agreed to postpone digital TV operator’s second licence fee payment for another year, According to Bangkok Post

He said the second licence fee payment, totalling 8.7 billion baht, is due on May 24.

However it was agreed by the board to be put off for a year to help reduce the financial burden on digital TV operators, he said.

Earlier digital TV operators have sought for the postponement, citing unready network infrastructure coverage by network operators.

Mr Takorn said the reason was based on the board’s worries that if digital TV operators face heavy financial problems they might not be able to produce quality contents.

Since the advent of digital TV last year, several operators have been affected by political uncertainty, the economic slowdown and delays in the expansion of the digital TV network.

He said the NBTC would have to amend the auction rules in three areas and submit the amendment draft for public hearing by May 20.

This was to prevent lawsuits by loser’s in the digital TV auctions.

Amendments will state that the delay will cover only the second licence fee payment due on May 24, a charge of 1.75% interest on payment postponement, and that digital TV operators must produce good contents.

But he said if digital operators were ready to make their second payments on May 24, they were free to do so.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nbtc-allows-one-year-reprieve-for-8-7-billion-baht-digital-tv-licence-fee-payment


-- Thai PBS 2015-04-23

[MaiChai]

Wow a lot of money! Surely dtv is a upgrade and will replace regular tv at some point?

[MobileContent]

The operatoes have the money so I don't know why they get another year delay. Who owns most of the public tv such as Ch5/Ch7/CH9? Ch5 and another one is owned by the army so no wonder that they have another year to cough up the funds.

[quandow]

"several operators have been affected by political uncertainty"

They're probably waiting for PM Cha-cha's soap operas.

[Srikcir]

The NBTC board has agreed to postpone digital TV operator’s second licence fee payment totalling Bt8.8 billion for another year.

At a time when the government NEEDS revenues for economic stimulus but has fallen behind on tax collection, deferred new taxes, deferred sale of offshore resource licenses, given out cash subsidies, forgiven personal debts, provided below market personal loans, and has to borrow from foreign governments for Thai infrastructure, it cannot afford to forego these license revenues. If a broadcaster can't afford the license, get out of business!

The Junta is stacking the economic debt against the next government that even under ideal democratic systems will struggle to survive. This kind of reckless economic policy would not have been allowed for an interim government under the 2007 Constitution. Prayut said he will never put the nation in debt with his policies while he is PM. But he never said he'll leave the nation broke when a new government takes over.