People suggested to buy NBTC-certified iDTV, Set Top Box

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) - Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)has suggested that people purchase Integrated Digital Television (iDTV) and SET TOP BOX, used for running the newly-introduced digital television system, only those certified by the NBTC with its Hologram Class A Broadcast label in order to ensure their standard quality. NBTC Secretary-General Thakorn Tantasith told journalists that his agency has never appointed any agent to distribute coupons to television owners, which would allow them to buy Set Top Box used for viewing the digital TV system, now being run in the country on a trial basis. The denial was made after some bogus firms told TV owners that they were appointed as NBTC agents to be responsible for selling the Set Top Box. These firms reportedly told the local TV owners to hand them their photocopies of identification cards, saying it is unnecessary for the owners to buy the box themselves. According to the NBTC chief, it is expected that the official coupons should be initially distributed to TV owners from July 2014 in areas where viewing digital television is possible. The NBTC chief noted that local TV owners can buy the SET TOP BOX, along with antenna, through the use of coupon and they can also use the coupon as a discount in buying a television set equipped with the digital system. Presently, all the six free television stations in Thailand are on testing the digital system, along with telecasting on the traditional analog system used in the country for decades, with the test scheduled to continue until April 24, 2014. (TNA)