They tabled the idea at a meeting of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s panel assigned to solve problems in terrestrial digital-TV business.

NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said he would submit the matter for consideration at next week’s full meeting of the regulator.

However, a representative of the Council of State at the meeting opposed the idea, arguing that full payment of the fee was a major responsibility of each operator.

The NBTC is expected to revoke two digital-TV licences held by Thai TV Co next week after the company refused to pay the second instalment of its upfront licence fee, as well as the annual fee, by yesterday’s deadline. Sombat Leelapata, acting deputy secretary-general of the NBTC, said the Broadcasting Committee would discuss the issue at its meeting on Monday, and would send Thai TV a written notice about the licence revocation.

Another notice will be sent to Thai Public Broadcasting Service, which provides a networking service to the financially ailing broadcaster.

The NBTC will also seek the Bt1.63-billion guarantee issued by Bangkok Bank.

Thai TV will also have to shoulder the unpaid annual licence fees and a daily fine of Bt60,000.