Varathep says MCOT to spread AEC message
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New PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn sees state media playing an urgent role in helping to prepare Thais for the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
“MCOT will be a key driver in creating public awareness of the AEC before this integration is put in place by 2015,” Varathep said last week.
He has been assigned to oversee this state enterprise, which operates Modernine TV and radio stations, as well as the Budget Bureau and the Consumer Protection Board.
The government realises that the AEC would have both direct and indirect impacts on people’s lives, he said. MCOT was an option to disseminate more knowledge and make Thais understand what the AEC is all about as well as how to adjust for the coming changes. For example, it should produce programmes to provide information, news and insight into the AEC.
However, as a listed company, MCOT should seek a good balance between public interest and company profits while the government should stay out of MCOT’s internal affairs.
Varathep will work closely with PM’s Office Minister Sansanee Nakpong, who supervises the Public Relations Department, to promote state policies via MCOT and the PRD’s media network.
Consumer protection in the broadcasting and media industry, particularly from false advertising on cable and satellite TV, will be underlined by Varathep.
He will soon discuss with the Consumer Protection Board about forming a special team to deal with complaints in the media industry concerning not only cable and satellite TV but also online media.
This move would be in line with steps by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunica-tions Commission to get tough on advertising, particularly on cable and satellite TV, whose stations will run on licences to be awarded by the NBTC.
Supinya Klangnarong, who sits on the NBTC’s committee for consumer protection, has said the NBTC has received complaints about false advertising, particularly related to pharmaceutical products, airing on cable and satellite TV. The regulator would work more closely with the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Protection Board to reinforce health regulations, she said.
There are about 1,000 cable and satellite TV operators nationwide.
