Operators of the Nation TV and Now digital channels have filed a lawsuit in the Central Administrative Court against the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for its alleged negligence in facilitating the transition to digital TV.
The channels, which are operated by Nation Broadcasting Corporation and Bangkok Business Broadcasting Co, both subsidiaries of Nation Multimedia Group, yesterday demanded 3.04 billion baht in compensation.
They claimed the regulator's negligence had caused them financial difficulties.
Nation Broadcasting president Adisak Limprungpatanakij said Nation TV and Now also demanded the NBTC improve its facilitation work in a bid to help digital TV operators survive.
They want all TV platform operators to have the same channel-numbering system, an extension for the third instalment of payments of auction fees, and a reduction in digital TV network rental fees.
"We hope that giving legal remedies for all digital TV players will be a development for the entire industry that can drive the country's economy," Mr Adisak said.
Many digital TV channels are struggling to survive amid fierce competition.
Five other digital TV channels -- GMM Grammy's One and GMM, PPTV, Thairath TV and Bright TV -- jointly filed a lawsuit against the NBTC in August for its alleged negligence and failure to facilitate the digital transition.
"We want to see a big improvement in the TV industry. We hope the NBTC will solve all the problems, work systematically and transparently and keep its promise," Mr Adisak said.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said he was concerned about the legal move by Nation TV and Now.
"As the regulator, the NBTC has been working hard to push for the digital TV transition. We did our best, but the results sometimes did not turn out as we expected," he said.
The five digital TV channels have accused the NBTC of not taking any action to improve its facilitation work, causing them to lose more than 21 million baht a day.
They are demanding compensation of 1.2 billion baht, plus their daily losses of 21 million.