July 16, 2012 – The operators of free TV channels could run into copyright-violation problems if upcoming “must carry” regulations are not followed cautiously, broadcasters and a media agency have told The Nation.
Last week, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved the draft of a regulation guaranteeing the basic right to access all free-to-air TV content in the Kingdom on any platform, without any conditions.
However, Wichit Aurareevorakul, executive adviser of the Thailand Cable TV Association, said that though cable TV operators would benefit from this, as they will be able to pass through or rebroadcast TV programmes from free-TV channels legally, it also might cause copyright problems for free-TV channels. And this factor will multiply along with the number of digital TV channels, expected to reach between 50 and 60 channels from only six channels now.