Cable TV operators could face 5 mil baht fine for airing TV ads too long

[webfact]

Cable TV operators could face 5 mil baht fine for airing TV ads too long

BANGKOK, 19 October 2015 (NNT)-Digital TV operators could face a fine of up to 5 million baht if they allow a commercial air time of longer than 6 minutes for a rerun.

According to National Broadcasting Telecommunication Commission Secretary- General Thakorn Tantasit, cable, satellite and digital TV operators are only allowed 6 minutes of commercial airtime within one hour for any show they are planning to replay.

Under Section 28 of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Services 2008, operator's average advertising airtime must also not exceed 5 minutes an hour throughout the day.

It will be considered a violation of consumer rights if the airtime is longer than the 6-minute threshold. Operators will be forced to pay a fine of not over 100,000 baht a day during the period of violation. Viewers are urged to report the violation to the NBTC by calling 1200, its consumer hotline.


-- NNT 2015-10-19

[petedk]

Deja vu?

I am sure I read this article a couple of weeks ago.

Found it:

Posted 2015-09-15 15:28:48

NBTC places restrictions on TV ad time

BANGKOK, 15 September 2015 (NNT) – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has placed restrictions on how long a television program can run advertisements. The new regulations apply to satellite, digital, and cable TV.

The NBTC invited stakeholders of subscription-based television to a clarification of the terms of service (TOS). NBTC Commissioner Supinya Klangnarong said that digital TV cannot exceed 12 minutes of advertisements per hour of programming. On the other hand, cable and satellite TV cannot exceed six minutes of advertisements per hour.

Ad ratio violations on cable TV will be fined 750,000 baht, and a further 20,000 baht for every additional day of the violation. Ad ratio violations on satellite and digital TV will be fined one million baht, and a further 50,000 baht for every additional day.

The TOS are slated to come into effect in October. Last month, the broadcaster regulator had announced its policy to protect television consumers.

Edited October 19, 2015 by petedk

[waldroj]

They should be taken to task over the number of repeats they show! If I wanted to watch the same program again I would have bought a dvd, not a subscription!

[Bluespunk]

5 minutes 59 seconds too long being allowed for ads.

Edited October 19, 2015 by Bluespunk

[Laughing Gravy]

It should say will be not could be. Also turning the volume up. It is so annoying.

Edited October 19, 2015 by Laughing Gravy

[steveyinasia]

True Visions series channel is the main culprit here. They finish a show 15 minutes before the hour and play their self promos until the next hour.

Edited October 19, 2015 by steveyinasia

[kevc]

I liked when it when Truevision had their encore season on the movie channel, meant they played a movie at 8pm and then played it again at 10 pm in case you missed it.......great minds.

[kennw]

I support the previous poster's annoyance about volume increase when an ad starts. Should also be subject to a fine.

[waldroj]

With particular regard to TrueVisions, whilst their advertising and self-promotion are annoying, their habit of repeating programs over and over again is intolerable (sometimes several times in the same day). It’s like being trapped in a time warp, AKA Groundhog Day!

I once wrote to them complaining about this, and the following is their response: The repeated program are for those who miss it.

Maybe all TV correspondents, who are unlucky enough to also be TrueVisions customers, should write to the company about the quality of the service that we pay for.

Edited October 19, 2015 by waldroj

[Jonmarleesco]

Six minutes per hour for an ad? Wake up NBTC! True Visions is a menace, for paid ads, self-ads, and for repeated repeats. They've even managed a quiz show for kids - starting at 1.30 in the morning.

The total time given over to paid ads on some channels almost exceeds the length of the programme with which they are interfering, and on occasion, the programme itself is on for less time between ads than the deemed six minutes for the ads, themselves. True self-promotes incessantly - even when the channel claims to be 'ad-free'. When the NCPO presents its address to the nation, which includes channels aimed at foreign viewers, it seems not to occur to True to suspend the then running programme for the duration. And they repeat more often than an infant at feeding time.

The NBTC needs to do a lot more than twiddle with the knobs of the advertising machine.

[Traveling Sailor]

Too bad this rule does not apply to regular Thai TV channels. As it is now, 10 minutes of show and 5 minutes of commercial. Why anyone puts up with the crap is beyond me.

[willyumiii]

They should be taken to task over the number of repeats they show! If I wanted to watch the same program again I would have bought a dvd, not a subscription!

Not everyone can view a program the first time it is aired.

I am pleased that channels I like air the same program several times, and think many more people have the opportunity to view what they are interested in as a result of repeat programming.

If I only cared about me, I would agree with you.

[jacko45k]

Please please please fine them over that infuriating Insomnia advert!!!

[LannaGuy]

what about the 'happiness' broadcasts? they are a form of advertising are they not?

[Langsuan Man]

In all my year here True has never listened to anybody, be it their customers, the government , or anyone else

Whether it be their cell phones , their cable or satellite divisions, or their Internet

Until the Thai's demand more from the services that they provide they will continue to offer the same crap across the full spectrum of their businesses

The foreign customer is merely a blip on the landscape of commerce for most Thai companies, and it is up to the Thais to change poor service. We are going to get nowhere whining here or to them for that matter

Cut the cord since there are so many alternatives for entertainment out there, you just have to know how to look, but don't expect instructions here at TV, since most methods have been deemed to be illegal