Digital Broadcasting and Digital TV Conference 15 May 2014 – morning

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Background, Purpose, Synopsis:
In late 2013, the NBTC (the nation’s merged broadcasting and telecoms regulator) held auctions to issue the country's first commercial digital spectrum, and then issued 24 commercial digital terrestrial TV licences. This heralds a new era in converged digital media.

As with telecommunications, broadcasting uses spectrum, a scare national resource. Digital broadcasting has far greater spectral efficiency (Mbps for each MHz of bandwidth) than does the analogue use of spectrum, allows for much better picture quality and also supports a range of other value-adding features and functionality. Digital television (DTV) is the transmission of audio and video by a digitally processed and multiplexed signal. The DVB T-2 standard is adopted in Thailand for broadcasting (along with all other ASEAN nations other than the Philippines). Broadly however, digital TV in various forms uses a variety of network types.

As with most countries, Thailand has started digital broadcasting well ahead of the end of analogue transmission (Analogue Switch Off date or ASO), which will take some time. The forces of convergence between telecoms (especially mobile) and broadcasting are playing out now and the outcomes are fascinating

The industry has spawned take up in technology and services, with a range of value-adding, innovative platforms and applications which push traditional boundaries at a very fast rate.

The half-day conference “Digital Broadcasting and Digital TV, a new era in high quality entertainment, information and learning” co-organized by EABC and JFCCT held on 15 May 2014 attracted more than 70 participants with interesting topics from both regulator and the industry. We welcomed various speakers including Ms. Madeleine Kihlberg (First Counsellor - EUD in Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, Myanmar) for opening remarks, Col. Dr. Natee Sukonrat (Vice Chairman - NBTC and Chairman Broadcasting Commission) on “Digital Broadcasting – the regulator’s vision”, Mr. Allan T Rasmussen (Managing Director – Yozzo Ltd.) on “Digital Broadcasting and TV in a converged marketplace”, Mr. Sebastian-Justus Schmidt (Managing Director - CNX Creative/Part of SPBTV) on “Digital Broadcasting and TV – What we can hope to experience”, and Mr. Pana Janviroj (President – Multimedia Group) on “A Broadcaster’s perspective, vision and plans”. With Q&A sessions, the participants also had a chance to engage with the speakers and received clearer information on related topics.

An updated background and policy paper will be available shortly at this location.

Again, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to our event sponsor CNX Creative/Part of SPBTV, all supporters; MAAT, Chiang mai Creative, ATCI and all speakers for their kind support and contribution, as well as all distinguished guests who participated at the conference.

Conference Booklet (PDF)

Conference Programme

8:30 – 9:00	Registration
9:00 – 9:10	Welcoming Remarks Ms. Madeleine KIHLBERG - First Counsellor EUD in Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, Myanmar
9:10 – 9:50	Keynote address: Digital Broadcasting - the regulator's vision Col. Dr. Natee Sukonrat– Vice Chairman NBTC and Chairman Broadcasting Commission
9:50 – 10:25	Address: Digital Broadcasting and TV in a converged marketplace Speaker I: Mr. Allan T Rasmussen - Managing Director, Yozzo Ltd.
10:25 – 10:40	Refreshment Break
10:40 – 11:15	Address: Digital Broadcasting and TV – What we can hope to experience Speaker II: Mr. Sebastian-Justus Schmidt - Managing Director, CNX Creative, part of SPB TV
11:15 – 11:30	Address: A Broadcaster's perspective, vision and plans Speaker III: Mr. Pana Janviroj - President, Nation Multimedia Group
11:30 – 12.00	Moderated Engagement: services, content and technology Speaker I, II, III and moderator
12.00 - 12.10	Address: Service sector liberalization and digital broadcasting, digital TV JFCCT/EABC - Mr. Bob Fox
12.10 - 13.45	Networking & Interactive lunch

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