FTA channels in Thailand can apply to simulcast digital services

The Thai national regulator has opened the way for free to air TV operators to apply for permits to test-run terrestrial digital broadcasting services in parallel with their analog services, nationmultimedia.com reports.

Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said the permits had been split into those for public TV operators – Channel 5, Channel 11 and Thai PBS – and those for commercial TV business, such as channels 3, 7 and 9. 

The simulcast trials by channels 5 and 11 will be conducted on the spectrum allocated for digital public TV service, and will continue until they have to shut down their analogue service. The NBTC will inform the channel operators of the time frame for switching off the analogue system.

Thai PBS will be the first public TV operator to obtain a digital licence for public broadcasting. The NBTC panel will grant a high-definition channel licence to the operator in May.