NBTC easing rules for sportscasts
Changes to support mobile viewership by redefining broadcast rights
The broadcasting regulator is amending its must-carry rule for broadcast service to ease limitations on viewing sports tournaments via mobile.
The most popular competitions include Fifa World Cup, Uefa European Championship and the 2018 Asian Games, which begin Aug 18 in Jakarta.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) must broaden the means for live broadcasts because more people today view content on mobile devices, said NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith.
Under the must-carry rule for broadcast service, local licensed TV stations must be carried on a cable provider’s system. Channels bid for the right to broadcast big tournaments.
Mr Takorn said a problem occurred when owners of broadcast rights refused to allow live broadcasts via mobile apps operated by other companies.
In June, largest mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) was ordered by the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court to stop broadcasting the Fifa World Cup final on the AIS Play app.
The move followed TrueVisions’ petition to the court to seek protection for its broadcasting rights against an alleged violation by two AIS subsidiaries, namely Mimo Tech and Super Broadband Network, as they had neither permission from Fifa nor from TrueVisions in advance.
Mr Takorn said the main problem was that mobile platforms are clearly defined as subscription TV operators under the mustcarry rule.
“To amend the must-carry rule, it must make it clear that broadcasting programmes operated by the NBTC’s licensees are also categorised as subscription TV stations,” he said, adding that in the future, private companies who bid for the live broadcast rights of big international sports tournaments have to include rights for live broadcast via other mobile platforms too.
The bidders may have to pay additional costs to the copyright owner, but the move is being made to broaden viewing opportunities for Thais.
Mr Takorn said the NBTC has assigned a working panel to amend the must-carry rule, with the amendments expected to be effective by mid-August.
The panel is chaired by Pakdee Manaves, the deputy secretary-general for broadcasting regulatory management.
The NBTC will call in Workpoint Entertainment to discuss broadcast rights for the 2018 Asian Games.
Workpoint is the first private firm to gain the broadcast rights in Thailand for the 2018 Asian Games. It will broadcast live from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium via TV, Facebook, YouTube and Line.
The Asian Games will take place in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from Aug 18 to Sept 2. This will be Thailand’s 18th appearance since the inaugural games in New Delhi.
“The live broadcast of the 2018 Asian Games should also be accessible on mobile platforms or over-the-top platforms operated by the NBTC’s licensees,” Mr Takorn said, adding that the commission has yet to speak with Workpoint Entertainment about a resolution.
OPERATOR ROADMAP
The NBTC is considering drafting a long-term survival roadmap for the broadcasting industry that will include planning for digital TV operators and satellite TV operators.
The current ecosystem of the broadcasting industry is vulnerable to fast-changing communications technology, especially social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and mobile apps.
The NBTC is worried about threats from innovative tech to operators, especially given the preparations to introduce 5G wireless broadband in the next two years.
The upgrade to 5G technology could provide data speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, creating new use cases for the Internet of Things, augmented reality and virtual reality applications, smart vehicles, remote healthcare, and robotics.
Mr Takorn said the NBTC needs to discuss well-rounded resolutions with all related parties in order to be able to assist operators in the long term.
In addition, the NBTC has subsidised the operating costs of uplink digital TV broadcasts on satellite platforms for satellite TV operators, an arrangement that will end in the next two years.