33 universities to bid for digital TV

Association of University Presidents Thailand

A group of 33 universities have jointly invested 200 million baht to bid for free digital TV channels, the president of the Association of University Presidents said.

Somkid Lertpaitoon, who also is the rector of Thammasat University, said the group comprises 27 state universities and six private campuses, all members of the Association of University Presidents of Thailand.

Representatives from the 33 institutes signed a cooperation contract they call the “universities network for public services” at a meeting on Tuesday. In it, they express readiness for a 24-channel digital TV spectrum auction scheduled for late September.

The network’s bid will be place in the category of free TV, which aims to promote information and knowledge, education, religion, arts and culture, science and technology, environment and career-building opportunities, Mr Somkid said after the meeting.

The channel is intended to create a “knowledge-based and lifelong learning society” for Thais, which is a core mission of all universities, he said.

He promised the channel would be operated and supervised by professionals, and be of high quality if the university network wins the bid.

“We will produce programmes that respond to the needs of the public and benefit them. We want to set a precedent in operating a TV station that truly offers programmes with quality and useful content for the people,” said Mr Somkid.