BANGKOK, 18 January 2013 The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has come out to calm nationwide viewers, who have been anxious about the country’s changeover from analog to digital television.
NBTC vice chairman Natee Sukonrat said on Thursday that the country’s transition from analog to digital broadcast system will start with the bidding process to find providers of the business channels. After that the NBTC will move on to the allocation of public program and community service channels.
All of this is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year, according to the NBTC vice chairman.
Mr. Natee stated that the transition will offer Thailand a total of 48 digital TV channels. He added that the analog system will still be functional until the transition is accomplished.
He went on to say that viewers will not have to acquire new TV sets to accommodate the digital broadcast as their existing units will be able to work with the new system through inexpensive set-top boxes.
