TV5, Thailand ready for digital service

The Royal Thai Army’s TV5 is ready for a trial of digital terrestrial broadcasting service this year. According to Lt-General Chatchai Sarikulya, President of Royal Thai Army Radio and Television, after heavily investing in digital technology in previous years, TV5 would launch a trial digital service before the end of 2012.

In 2011, the company started construction of a Bt1.6-billion, 22-storey building on the same grounds as the TV5 and Thai Global Network (TGN) stations. The project is expected to be completed and begin operating by late next year.

According to nationmultimedia.com, the new tower will house 12 new studios equipped with digital technology, up from the four studios operating now. “So we will be ready to produce our own TV programmes, particularly live shows, and transmit them in digital format through various digital channels in two years,” Chatchai said.

Under the policy of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC), six broadcasters – BEC’s TV3, TV5, Bangkok Broadcasting Television’s Channel 7, MCOT’s Modernine TV, the Public Relations Department’s National Broadcasting Services of Thailand and Thai Public Broadcasting Service – will begin digital broadcasting trials by December 2012.