Thai TV deadline now Nov 2
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has given cash-strapped Thai TV Co two more days to find a business partner and pay the digital TV auction fees, extended to Nov 2.
The broadcasting panel agreed to extend the Oct 31 deadline for Thai TV to Nov 2 at a special meeting yesterday.
However, Thai TV appears unlikely to secure a business partner or pay the money to the regulator by the deadline. The company has not submitted a business rehabilitation plan or contacted the regulator for the licence fee payment.
Takorn Tantasith, the NBTC secretarygeneral, said if Thai TV could not pay its second auction fee instalment totalling 288 million baht plus 7.5% interest and the licence fee by Nov 2, the regulator will send an official letter to inform the company that its two digital TV licences will be suspended for 30 days, starting from Nov 3.
That means Thai TV’s two digital channels — Loca for children and Thai TV news — will not be able to broadcast for 30 days.
“If Thai TV doesn’t accept the licence suspension, it can seek an injunction from the Central Administrative Court,” said Mr Takorn.
Thai TV has been silent with the deadline fast approaching.
An industry source said Thai TV, led by media veteran Pantipa Sakulchain, could not finalise a partnership deal with Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, heir to the Thai Nescafe coffee empire.
Thai TV failed to pay the second auction fee instalment in late May, saying it was losing more than 300 million baht from running the two digital TV channels. The company wanted to return the two licences to the regulator, but was told to pay the remaining auction fees totalling 1.6 billion baht.
Thai TV blamed its losses on the regulator, which it said could not facilitate a smooth digital TV transition. The digital TV network and distribution of subsidy coupons were delayed, affecting public awareness of digital TV and lowering viewership, it claimed.
Thai TV took its case to the Central Administrative Court and was told to find a compromise with the NBTC by Oct 31, including a potential business partner, in order to pay the fees.
In another development, Spring News Corporation, the operator of Spring News channel, laid off 40 news and production staff yesterday. It is restructuring for next year to expand to more platforms including radio, website and social media.
Watanya Wongopasi, vice-chairwoman, said the cuts were necessary, but it would continue to expand the team for Asean and world news in the future, its main focus.
But a source at the channel said editorial was told 25% of the 400 staff would be laid off to make the operation leaner. The first lot of layoffs is 40, then the company will pick the remaining 60 people for the second and third rounds by today, said the source.
“The channel’s owner has to do this because we are running a loss of 30 million baht per month now,” said the source.