Temporary suspension of Thai TV suggested

“We would like to say that we are now seeing light at the end of the tunnel. If Thai TV agrees with my idea, the company could have a chance to lodge a request, with reasons, for a break of its broadcasting services to the broadcasting committee for consideration,” Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the NBTC, said yesterday.

She had been in a 30-minute meeting with legal representatives from Thai TV to discuss their legal conflict, following the instructions handed down by the Central Administrative Court at a hearing last week.

The stations could go off the air for about two or three months while the company seeks outside help to run them.

“Before going into further details, this idea must be agreed upon by my colleagues on the broadcasting committee,” she said.

Supinya, who was the only representative at the meeting from her committee, said she would update the other members.

Suchat Chomkul, legal representative of Thai TV, said he could not make any decision about Supinya’s proposal, but would take it back and discuss it with Pantipa Sakulchai, president of Thai TV. 

Pantipa had decided to give up her digital-TV business and wanted to relinquish her two licences for the Thai TV news channel and Loca family channel. She cited difficulties in operations, intense competition and lack of support from the NBTC for the transition from analog to the digital era.

According to local newspapers, Pantipa insisted that both Thai TV and Loca would end their services on the digital terrestrial platform by Sunday. She also refused to pay the remaining instalment of the up-front licence fee and the annual licence fee to the commission.

However, Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, has insisted that Thai TV must pay all fees before shutting down both TV stations. He ordered his staff to issue an order to enforce the guarantee posted by Bangkok Bank, a lender to Thai TV.

Supinya said the order had been issued without any approval from her committee.

A legal representative of Thai TV Co said: “The order to seize the bank guarantee was a key reason Thai TV Co decided to file a petition at the Central Administrative Court last month for Bt700 million in compensation from the NBTC.” 

Suchat said Pantipa was going to attend a second hearing on the petition at the courthouse this afternoon along with his team.