Some 7.07 million digital TV subsidy coupons have been distributed to Thai families, with the average redemption rate of over 40%, says the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Takorn Tantasith, the NBTC secretary-general, said the regulator was satisfied with the coupon redemption rate after the scheme began in October.
The first phase of 4.6 million vouchers for residents in Bangkok and the major provinces has had a 66% redemption rate, while 25% of the 1.3 million vouchers distributed in the second phase have been redeemed. The redemption rate for the third phase of 1.17 million coupons is only 9%.
The redemption period for the remaining coupons in the first phase ends on May 31. Each coupon has a value of 690 baht.
Yesterday the regulator began distributing 630,000 vouchers in the fourth phase to households in Buri Ram, Surin, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket and Trang, where digital TV network coverage exceeds 80%.
When the coupon scheme ends later this year, the NBTC estimates the redemption rate will reach 70% of households.
Nielsen Thailand reports viewership of digital TV has tripled from 7% last April to 24% now.
Mr Takorn said the 800,000 households that have not received their digital TV vouchers can track them via the NBTC website. It plans to distribute 13.5 million vouchers this year.
He said the regulator would investigate news reports that many people sold their digital TV set-top boxes at the Khlong Thom market or exchanged them for satellite TV set-top boxes.
Satellite TV network providers are organising an expo this weekend with a promotion allowing the exchange of digital TV set-top boxes for satellite TV boxes.
MCOT Plc, the state-run broadcaster of Channel 9, announced it would go ahead with its procurement of digital TV network equipment after facing an accusation of corruption. MCOT president Sivaporn Chomsuwan said its procurement was transparent even though two bidding vendors, Samart Comtec and IRCP, asked the company to reconsider the process.
The MCOT board approved 226 million baht to buy network equipment from Loxley Plc.