The broadcasting regulator yesterday turned down a request by CTH to extend the deadline for submitting its customer relief plan by an additional seven days.
CTH said it wanted more time to work on a proposal and send it to the broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) before ending its pay TV service on Sept 1.
CTH now faces a daily fine of 20,000 baht, retroactive to Aug 17. If it acknowledges the fine and still cannot submit its customer relief plan to the broadcasting regulator within seven days, it risks suspension of its pay TV licence, said NBTC deputy secretary-general Pakdee Manaves.
On Aug 8, the broadcasting panel resolved that the NBTC would have to order CTH to send its customer relief plan within seven days of being formally informed.
CTH had cut its content supply to the C-band satellite system -- including PSI Holdings, GMM Z and Sunbox -- on Feb 6, angering customers.
It then stopped supplying content to the KU-band satellite platform on Aug 1 without approval from the regulator. This time, 40,000 customers were affected.
Supinya Klangnarong, a broadcasting commissioner, said CTH's actions were unfair to consumers, who require compensation.
"I don't see any practical customer relief plan from CTH," she said. "What CTH did shows that it has no business responsibility."
An end to CTH's pay TV service on Sept 1 would prevent audiences from watching free TV and digital TV as well. The regulator would inform satellite TV operators to cut the transmission of digital TV signals to CTH set-top boxes.
More than 200 affected customers under the networks of GMM Z, RS Plc and PSI Holdings have lodged complaints with the Consumer Protection Board.
The broadcasting committee is considering a penalty for GMM B, a subsidiary of CTH, for cutting its pay TV content to the C-band satellite system without approval from the regulator.
GMM B will be fined 1 million baht plus 50,000 baht a day during the period in which it violates pay TV regulations.
"What is very important for CTH is to prepare the customer relief package for both customers who have already suffered from its content cut and those who will soon face the pay TV service cancellation on Sept 1," Ms Supinya said.