Thai TV faces suspension of licences
Failed to pay second fee to regulator
THAI TV Co will face a 90-day suspension of its licences to broadcast the Thai TV news channel and MVTV Family channel, formerly known as Loca, for failing to pay the second instalment of the upfront licence fee by Saturday’s last deadline.
Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the Broadcasting Committee, said yesterday that the deadline fell on a weekend so his panel decided to extend it to today.
However, Thai TV had stopped airing both TV channels at midnight on Saturday.
That was understandable even though the company did it before the extended date, he said.
During the suspension, Thai TV and his panel hopefully could work something out to avoid the cancellation of the two licences and a ban on the company and its executives from participating in the broadcasting business.
Natee said that to prevent such severe punishment, the broadcasting regulator had given Thai TV some time to seek a content partner or co-investor to run both digital terrestrial TV channels and boost its finances.
It will owe the regulator the |second instalment, 7.5-per-cent interest and the annual fee, totalling more than Bt288 million.
Although Thai TV Co is reportedly in talks with several potential partners, including Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, the heir to the Nestle empire in Thailand, no business deals have been struck so far.
Early this year, Thai TV, led by media veteran Pantipa Sakulchai, claimed that it had suffered a huge financial loss, so it decided to give up its digital TV operation and relinquish its licences.
Refused to pay other liabilities
The company also refused to pay the remaining liabilities, which took both parties to the Central Administrative Court in June.
However, the court instructed them to continue negotiating for a proper solution.
Kantachai Srisukhon, director of engineering at Thai Public Broadcasting Service, said the transmission of both channels was discontinued by its client.
Thai PBS provides a network service to several digital terres-|trial TV stations, including Thai TV.
“We have to wait and see further action from the broadcasting regulator on this matter this week.
“During this period, coloured bars will be screened instead of TV programmes at both channels,” he said.
However, Thai TV Co still owes Bt40 million in back rent for leasing Thai PBS’ network.
