MCOT ready for digital TV

BANGKOK, October 10 (TNA) - New MCOT President Anek Permwongseni has announced that MCOT Public Company Limited (MCOT), a most established Thai media firm running Modernine TV, Modern Radio Networks and Thai News Agency (TNA), is now ready for being an operator of the digital TV over the next couple of years. Dr. Anek stressed today that MCOT plans to transform its main television structure to be digital services over the next three years, after speeding up tailoring its new five-year strategic plan under which policies and projects on its development toward digital broadcasting services in compliance with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) standards and regulations, covering the creation of an operational network with other government-run TV channels in sharing equipment on digital transmission. According to the new president, MCOT's development toward the digital services will be more apparent over the next decade, as the company is accelerating studying the digital system from relevant domestic and international agencies, namely TOT Public Company Limited and CAT Telecome. The MCOT new top executive acknowledged that he plans a "big change" of Modernine TV's programs again at the beginning of next year, with a focus on making TNA become a best, reliable and practical source of all kinds of news, namely those on domestic and global economies, foreign and social affairs and sports, through all its media channels, following an ongoing study on public ratings of its existing programs thoroughly. (TNA)