Channel 5 will make more content itself
WORANUJ MANEERUNGSEE
Most TV programme producers will lose business opportunities with army-run Channel 5 soon as the broadcaster is moving toward compliance with the new Broadcasting Act.
Taking effect in March, the law requires licensed broadcasters to manage their airtime and produce content themselves rather than allow outsiders to subcontract airtime for commercial purposes. Frequency is a national property, so it should be used for the public interest, according to the act approved by the Surayud Chulanont government late last year.
But TV programme producers led by Jamnan Siritan, president of the Radio and Television Broadcasting Professionals Federation, say the act is unfair and urge the current government to amend the law.
Channel 5 director Kittitus Bumnejpun said the station would announce its new programming schedule in the next couple of months, which will serve its new identity as a state security-based public TV station.
''As the army-run broadcaster, obviously, the 'state security' purpose is inevitable,'' said Lt-Gen Kittitus.
A National Broadcasting Commission will grant licences to broadcasters based on their purpose such as serving public, community and commercial interests.
Lt-Gen Kittitus said content with ''substance'', including news, would make up 70% of programmes, from the current 60%. Entertainment would make up only 30% instead of 40% now.
Asking whether the decrease in entertainment content would affect revenues, he said: ''Revenues are never the priority goal for Channel 5.''
As the army-run broadcaster, perceived as having less ability to produce interesting content, he said he was confident that the station's staff and modern technology would bring about better quality content.
Channel 5 will slowly stop television producers from managing commercial airtime rented from the station. Instead, they will co-produce programmes.
''Brokers undermine the quality of TV programmes. Instead of spending money on content development, programme producers are forced to pay commissions to brokers. Eventually, they cut production costs and produce poor programmes,'' he said.
Thawinan Kongkran, public relations manager at Channel 5, said there have been more than 100 programmes produced under rental airtime contracts. Once the new policy is implemented, around half of them would lose the opportunity to work with Channel 5.
''We are eager to work with only high-quality producers.
''There are about, say, 10 producers.'' Mrs Jamnan said the country has been moving toward opening up its TV industry.
Once the authority grants licences for more channels, producers prohibited from renting airtime and managing it for commercial purposes would no longer be the issue.
The more channels, the more business opportunities there would be for them. If not, the channel would stop working with some producers.
Mrs Jamnan is now a committee member working on the Frequency Allocation Bill and she said she hoped the Information and Communications Technology Ministry would amend the law to benefit all stakeholders.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Next
