Representatives from major distributors and manufacturers of digital-TV set-top boxes and antennas jointly lodged a letter suggesting that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission should be more aggressive in promoting the transition from analog to digital television through such measures such as public relations activities to raise awareness about this new system. The group also wants the coupon-expiry period extended.

The NBTC has distributed the vouchers to 13.8 million households, and 8 million have been redeemed so far.

However, Philip Heussen, head of Next Step’s Freeview HD, a distributor of satellite receivers, said on Wednesday that despite the 8 million redeemed coupons, only 3 million digital-TV receivers had been installed.

The distributor group also claimed that most of the distributed coupons had already expired, so the NBTC should extend the opportunity for those who have coupons to use them until analog broadcasting comes to an end.

The regulator should also issue 8.5 million more vouchers so as to cover all 22.3 million households, including underprivileged and disabled people, with the subsidy programme, they said.

As a key part of transforming the national broadcasting system to digital terrestrial technology, the NBTC offered the Bt690 vouchers to encourage TV viewers to exchange their old receivers for new ones allowing them to watch the 24 new commercial digital channels.

NBTC member Supinya Klangnarong, who received the letter from the set-top box manufacturers, said yesterday that her broadcasting committee had been urged to set a clear deadline for the implementation of the “must carry” rule.