T I T V To Become First Public Television Station Without Advertising

[sriracha john]

Some government officials have cited the model of Britain's BBC, which is funded from annual television licence fees paid by households. The current licence fee is 135.50 (about 9,500 baht) per year.

And where is the average Thai gonna get 9kB to pay for one station - 2 or 3 month salary for many!

actually it'll be from a different source of funding...

TITV operations to be financed by 'sin' taxes

Cabinet backs move for tobacco, alcohol taxes to pay for independent station

Up to 1.5 per cent of "sin" taxes would be utilised to sustain TITV after it received Cabinet endorsement yesterday to operate as a commercial-free public TV station.

"We consider that 1.5 per cent from the sin tax, no more than Bt2 billion, should be enough for TITV's operations," Finance Minister Chalongphop Sussangkarn told reporters.

"The working committee estimated that 1.5 per cent would be about Bt1.5 billion, as annual tobacco and alcohol excise-tax collection is about Bt100 billion," he said.

TITV's financing would follow the model for the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, which was set up in 2001 outside the bureaucratic process by the Health Promotion Foundation Act, he said.

ThaiHealth runs on an annual budget of Bt2 billion from excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products.

The allocation for TITV would not cause difficulties for the treasury, as the amount is deemed not too high nor too little, he said.

This is an extraordinary case, he said. The Finance Ministry normally would not agree to any law that directs the use of tax revenue, but this is a special case for a better social balance.

The funding would start after the TITV law is passed and its editorial board and management team are appointed.

"This allocation would not be included in the annual government budget to prevent political interference. If this station is to be a public station, it must be kept free from politics. In terms of supervision, the government would help nominate directors but there are specific qualifications for them. I hope that it'll be professionally done but social control is needed for unbiased opinions and attractiveness to viewers. They should find ways to spend the budget efficiently but if there are no viewers, society should come to investigate. If there's a problem, there will be a process to fix it," Chalongphop said.

The Cabinet also approved a draft bill to establish the Thai Public Broadcasting Agency or TPB, as an independent legal entity with nine directors serving four-year terms.

The recruitment committee for directors would be made up of representatives from the journalist and broadcasting associations, the Federation of Consumer Organisations, a children's organisation, the PM's Office and the Finance Ministry. The board must be established within 120 days of the law's enforcement.

The draft law also describes the types of programming and stipulates that 1.5 per cent of excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco sales or a maximum of Bt2 billion would be reserved for the station. The finance minister is allowed to increase the percentage every three years. A viewers' council would be formed to monitor the station's operations.

PM's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan said the draft bill would be forwarded to the Council of State for review as soon as possible before it is submitted to the National Legislative Assembly. She expects that it would take six months to start up TPB.

Jamnan Siritan, president of JSL, one of TITV's producers, said he had no objection to the public TV concept but wished it were viewer-supported.

"It should not be funded by tax revenue as that means all Thais have to bear the cost, irrespective of whether they watch the channel or not. Viewers should be charged to create a sense of ownership among them," he said, adding that tax revenue should be channelled to necessary projects.

Traiphop Limprapat, another producer, said production houses would have to negotiate contracts with the board of directors under a fixed budget, as they could no longer count on income from selling commercial airtime.

- The Nation

[Jai Dee]

The Cabinet approves Public TV Act

The Prime Minister, Gen. Surayud Chulanont, says the Government Public Relations Department will be responsible for the T-iTV operations after the Cabinet has approved the Public Television Act.

However, the Prime Minister says the Government Public Relations Department had to consider the budget and the operations of T-iTV and thus causing some delays.

However, he says the government officials did not want to slow down the T-iTV operations but they wanted to be certain that no mistakes will be made in their decisions.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 May 2007

[sriracha john]

TITV won't work,Traipop complains

Television producers and advertising agencies want a new government to reverse the decision to make TITV a public broadcaster.

They told a meeting of 500 broadcast workers, advertisers and agencies discussing turning TITV into a public broadcaster that running such a network was too expensive. A public station would not be financially independent as a result of its social objectives, they said.

Television-show host and head of producer Born and Associates, Traipop Limprapat, said he hoped a new government would reverse the interim administration's plan.

Transforming TITV into a public station would take another six months - just about the time the country is due to have an election.

The Public Relations Department assumed responsibility for TITV in early March. It has yet to pay its employees because of "technical problems" accessing money for salaries.

The station's advertising revenue plunged by half in May from the same period last year. Advertisers are said to "lack confidence" in the direction of TITV.

Traipop did not object to the concept of public television but believed it would be reviewed and discarded in favour of a financially independent and sustainable broadcaster.

The government set aside Bt1.5 billion to finance the new station. But Traipop said the money was insufficient and failed to budget for the Bt3 billion it would cost to set up a public broadcaster.

"It is not possible for TITV to use Channel 11 to operate because Channel 11 belongs to the government. Besides, station equipment needs to be refurbished once every three years. The question is: How will the government pay for this?" he asked. He wondered who would want to work for a station unlikely to make a profit in the long run.

Department chief Pramoj Rathavinij told a news conference it would not intervene in TITV operations for the six months before it becomes a public station.

Media buyer Suphawe Dechaburananon said the statement restored confidence in the station. She believed competition encouraged producers to improve the quality of their programmes. Nonetheless, Suphawe hoped the government would reconsider making TITV a public network so audiences had more alternatives.

TITV was worth Bt10 billion and employed many people who would suffer because of the government's decision, she said.

PRD's Pramoj said the department considered TITV important. "My duty is to ensure people can work effectively." He said employees' salaries would be paid soon.

The department would appoint five TITV board members to focus on employment and programming.

The Finance Ministry established a new account for TITV to ensure its revenues were separate from state cash. The account had a balance of Bt130 million.

Advertising revenue in May to date was between Bt80-90 million - down 50 per cent on the same month last year.

The station's operating costs were about Bt30 million a month - a third of which was for salaries.

TITV news director Ajsha Suwanpakprak said a group of about 70 employees had formed a company called Independent Television to accept work assigned by the department.

- The Nation

====================

Sure sounds like a lot of the over-priced boys, eg. Traipop Limprapat, always seem to cry the loudest when faced with the prospect of an appropriate salary. For someone that's grown accustomed to multi-million baht pay, I can imagine that frugal nature of the new station is in conflict with that life-style.

Perhaps he could have avoided all of this if he had grown through with his plans to invest 1.5 Billion

* that's with a "B" * Baht to buy a stake in iTV back in 2005. I wonder if he regrets pulling out then.

Yeah, I can see his point. Deprived of millions and millions into his own bank account, it sure sounds better, for him, to champion the cause of the less well-renumerated employees.

Edited May 22, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

TITV staff to finally get paid for work

Cabinet also sets up interim operation unit

Staff at TITV will be paid for the first time since the Office of the Prime Minister seized the broadcasting concession of its predecessor iTV four months ago. The cabinet yesterday approved a resolution that permits the Public Relations Department to pay salaries it owes TITV staff. The resolution abolishes three regulations regarding salary payments, income collection and the use of state property to enable this. The cabinet also resolved to set up a service delivery unit to administer and run TITV before it is converted into a public service broadcaster. Pramote Rathavinij, the Public Relations Department's director-general, said the resolution would help TITV operate more smoothly. The station will now be able to spend the 130 million baht in revenue earned from operations in the months since problems at the station began. Mr Pramote said all unpaid salaries at TITV from March to May will be paid by the end of this month. He said he also expected to clear all debts, including electricity and satellite charges.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/30May2007_news11.php

[Jai Dee]

Cabinet approves establishment of TITV as a SDU

The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Service Delivery Unit for TITV television network.

Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Khunying Tipawadee Meksawan (ทิพาวดี เมฆสวรรค์ ) reports that a Cabinet meeting yesterday (May 29) has resulted in the decision to appoint the Public Relations Department as the supervisory organization overseeing operations of the TITV television network. Furthermore TITV will be shaped into a Service Delivery Unit (SDU). The Cabinet has also authorized the disbursement of financial resources, expenses, and regulations from March 8th to the date of the SDU implementation in order to reduce the transition impact of TITV.

The Director of the Public Relations Department, Mr. Pramote Ratwinit (ปราโมช รัฐวินิจ) reports that payment for TITV employees as well as a 130 million baht profit from TITV operations will be expedited as part of the organization's management process. Mr. Pramote affirms that there will be minimal difficulties in implementing the Cabinet's SDU policy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 May 2007

[sriracha john]

Cabinet approves establishment of TITV as a SDU

The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Service Delivery Unit for TITV television network.

Furthermore TITV will be shaped into a Service Delivery Unit (SDU).

Sorry, if I'm struggling with their terminology, but is this what they mean by a Service Delivery Unit (SDU) ; such as the one on the back of this bike?

Edited May 30, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Rocky start for TITV

All staff laid off; ad ban enforced as new board due

TITV's transformation into Thailand's first public television station began last night with advertising being dropped and the appointment expected today of a five-member board to take care of its operations.

PM's Office minister Khunying Thipawadee Meksawan said the five names would be submitted to the Cabinet for acknowledgement. The board would take charge of the company's operations in line with the Public TV Act, which came into force yesterday. The board, which will be in office for six months before the establishment of a permanent nine-member board through the selection of various groups, will then announce its policies.

Public Relations Department director-general Pramote Ratthawinit said as from midnight, the 800 TITV staff were no longer considered employees and that all existing programmes, news or non-news, would be pulled off the air.

For two full days, programmes would be government documentaries, mostly on royal activities, and particularly those of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, to be supplied from the PRD's broadcasting network.

"The new board will then appoint the station director, who will make decisions on employment and programming. Staff who do not get new job contracts will not be entitled to any compensation," he said.

Within six months, the board should complete all pending issues.

TITV staff at midnight gathered to bid goodbye to the station. The disgruntled workers clustered in a gloomy atmosphere. Some said they did not want to be the dead bodies littering the path to public TV. At a press conference yesterday afternoon, they said they had done their jobs with honesty and had never taken money from politicians or interest groups.

"We are confident that the board members will do their job fairly and honestly with no agenda to seek personal benefit or to benefit their peers," said senior editor Alongkorn Muandao.

Sathaporn Charupa, chief of the Labour Protection and Welfare Department, said up to half of the station's staff could be laid off and they were not protected under the labour law as they had fallen under the control of the Public Relations Department -a state agency. He said the department was ready to help staff who were laid off.

Advertising agencies and TV producers have cried foul over the lack of official notification of the ad ban.

A source from a media planning agency said its clients had no contingency plan on what to do, as everything would depend on the station's new board.

Y&R advertising agency's chief executive Sorn Chongsricharn said the ad ban would have no negative affect on the company's customers, given that big advertisers had shifted their ads to other channels since iTV was changed to TITV.

He said the loss of ad time on TITV would not mean a significant boost in revenue for other channels that allow advertising.

"Advertising fees on TITV are not expensive at only one third the cost of other channels. I think Channel 7 will be the biggest beneficiary and the rest will go to Channels 3, 5 and 9. Without TITV, it's good for advertisers - they have fewer options to choose from," Sorn said.

Traiphop Limpraphat, a television host and head of producer Born and Associates, criticised the government for the sudden change. He called it a big hoax. "If the new programmes are those announced earlier, the government is deceiving the public," he said.

"It announced that a public TV station must be independent from government intervention or business-sector control. But the announced programmes contain some government programmes. Indeed, the board must not be appointed by the government. If we don't call this intervention, what else can we call it?"

He urged the board to conduct hearings so the public can say what it wants of the public TV channel.

"This needs massive public scrutiny given the involvement of taxpayers' money. This is a big hoax and I will not let anyone fool the public," he said.

Phusit Laithong, deputy managing director of producer TV Thunder, also questioned the government's move following the announcement of the new programmes. He urged the public to question if any particular party would benefit from the transformation.

"From our discussions, no producers have been notified of the unplugging. We're still producing programmes and our most recent tapes could last until late February. This will cause damage," he said.

Under the Public TV Act, TITV, which earns about Bt2 billion in annual ad revenue, would be financed by "six taxes" of about Bt2 billion annually. Its original operator, iTV Plc, posted net profits of Bt205 million in 2004 and Bt678 million in 2005. With provisions for additional concession fees, it made a net loss of Bt1.78 billion. The concession was revoked in March 2006 following iTV's failure to pay fines of over Bt100 billion.

The PM's Office was recently ordered to settle the fines through arbitration. There are questions over what the government will do if the fines are settled at a level acceptable to and payable by iTV.

- The Nation

[JetsetBkk]

"Staff who do not get new job contracts will not be entitled to any compensation," he said.

Happy New Year. Incredible. TiT - TITV.

[sriracha john]

Seems a lot of the over-priced glitzy-type staff, especially millionaire Traiphop above, are whining pretty loudly as if this all came as some big surprise when actually they knew full well that it's been in the works for nearly a year.

Edited January 14, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Public TV channel launched

All TITV programming went off the air shortly after midnight, replaced by Channel 11 shows, when it became an ad-free public television station, amid concerns about job security for its staff. The move came after the Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act came into force yesterday. The law paves the way for the establishment of a five-member board to govern and set the direction of the station. The committee, nominated by PM's Office Minister Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan, will be approved by the government today. It will spend at least six months planning programme content in line with the public television principle and recruit staff to work for the station. As the law took effect, Channel 11 was ordered to take over the transmission of TITV by broadcasting prepared programmes with no commercial breaks, said Public Relations Department Director-General Pramoj Rathavinij. The programmes include documentaries about the late Princess Galyani Vadhana and in-stock foreign documentaries, which would be on air over the next few days, he said. TITV was launched in 1995 as iTV with a 30-year concession from the Prime Minister's Office. It was the country's first UHF channel. After a lengthy dispute over non-payment of concession fees to the PM's Office, the station was taken over by the PRD last year and renamed TITV.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Jan2008_news02.php

[apetley]

If all that will be on view is anti Thaksin rhetoric, pro coup statements, military propaganda and an endless replay of Royal engagements then I don't think TiTV will be competing with the soaps available on other channels. At least not in the inlaws household.

[Plus]

They need to provide space for Thai journalists who want to talk about real issues, they can't rely on the same old staff that compromised itself long time ago, you won't get anything out of the present team apart from techinical expertise.

The problem might be that Thais don't want socially responsible programs, they just need soaps.

Still, I hope there is enough journalists there to rekindle people's interest.

I understand people working on Nation Channel want to be their major producer.

[Jai Dee]

PM affirms transformation of TiTV to public TV is lawful

The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Gen. Surayud Chulanont, says the transformation of the Thai Independent Television (TiTV) into a public television is lawful. He affirms that the interim government will make sure that TiTV’s assets of more than 1.7 billion baht will be managed transparently.

Before the Cabinet meeting today (January 15th), TiTV employees submitted a letter to Gen. Surayud, asking him to take action against the Government Public Relations Department which had ordered the television station to stop broadcasting since last night.

Concerning more than 800 TiTV's employees, the Prime Minister says their redundancy is only temporary and they can apply for the same job.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 January 2008

[Jai Dee]

TiTV employees to ask for justice from Administration Court

More than 800 employees of the TiTV television station announce that they will ask the Administration Court to provide them justice following the Public Relations Department's (PRD) order to halt all programs. The order came effective to go in line with the Public TV Act.

PRD has sent signal of its program on the commemoration of the Royal Family to TiTV since midnight without commercial.

The employees requested the government’s ad-hoc committee on the public television to outline the station’s direction and policy. Meanwhile, TiTV News Director Atcha Suwanprakphreak (อัชฌา สุวรรณปากแพรก) called a meeting to discuss the matter.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 January 2008

[Jai Dee]

TITV begins life as public television

TITV, formerly named ITV and owned by the Shinawatra Group changed its status today to a public channel voiding all contracts including employees and advertisements. The channel is planned to play government documentaries and pieces in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana for two days as a 5 member board is established.

Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Khunying Tipawadee Maeksawan (ทิพวาดี เมฆสวรรค์) stated that the potential board member’s names and credentials will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval during their meeting today. The board members will be the first step to the establishment of the channel and they have been given a six month time frame to discuss and conclude all issues surrounding the station.

The channel will operate under a newly passed law named the Public TV Act which allows funding for its work to be taken from six separate tax accounts. The act has been designed so that no single party could influence the channel in its broadcast.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 January 2008

[sriracha john]

A new name... same as used in USA... and a new boss

Thepchai selected as TPBS acting director

The five-member board of Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS) selected Chulalongkorn University's architectural tutor Kwansuang Athipo to be the president of the station, which is formerly known as TITV. Thepchai Yong is selected by the board to be the station's acting director. Mr Kwansuang said the station will open for job applicants starting Wednesday to Jan 20, adding that the station will be able to produce its own content partially on Feb 1. Changes in TITV occurred after the Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act came into force on Monday, making it an an-free public television station. Channel 11 is ordered to take over the transmission of TITV by broadcasting prepared programmes with no commercial breaks. The committee is tasked with planning programme content in line with the public television principle and

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=125162

[sriracha john]

New, public TPBS-TV ready to start hiring

The five-member board, appointed by the Thai Cabinet on Tuesday to work on policy and guidelines for the country's new public television station, met in the afternoon and agreed to start the recruitment process for the new station on Wednesday. It also set Feb 1 as the launching date for Thailand Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS), the first of its kind for the kingdom. Five members of the board included Mr Thepchai Yong, Mr Kwansuang Atibhoti, Mr Narong Jaiharn, Mr Apichart Thongyoo and Mrs Nualnoi Trirat. Apart from Mr Thepchai who has a deep media background, other members are academics or social workers. Mr Thepchai was however criticised for conflict of interest as he has been a long-time executive of The Nation multimedia group which also operates a broadcasting network, the Nation Channel. Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, Dhipavadee Meksawan, denied Mr Thepchai could have a conflict of interest, saying he has already resigned from The Nation group. She said Mr Thepchai's mass media background would be beneficial to the five-member board and his performance has been outstanding.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=125166

[sriracha john]

The country's first public TV station gets temporary policy board

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the appointment of temporary five-member policy board for the country's first public television station, Thai Public Broadcasting Service.

The public television station will take over main assets and frequency from TITV.

Board members are Narong Jaiharn, Apichart Thongyoo, Kwansuang Atibodhi, Nualnoi Trirat and Thepchai Yong. They will call a press conference at the Radisson Hotel at 3.30 pm Tuesday.

Narong is a law lecturer at Thammasat University. Apichart is the secretary general of the Sawasdee Foundation. Kwansuang is a special lecturer at the Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Architecture. Nualnoi teaches at the Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Economics.

Thepchai is former editor of Nation Multimedia Group.

The temporary policy board will take charge of the country's first public TV station, until the selection of permanent board is completed.

- The Nation

[thaigene2]

Well, well

All theb establishment types are in there on that board - with no qualifications to run a public broacaster - but hey - they've got the "best interests" of (elite) Thailand at heart, right?

There's nothing wrong with a public broadcaster - and if it were to be run like BBC or Australia's ABC or Canada's CBC - with a charter, multi-year Government gauranteed funding, and a constiutuional amendment to make poltical medling illegal, it would be a great addition to Thailand's development. But why do I have a hunch none of those things will happen.

The one good aspect at present is no commercial advertizing.

[sriracha john]

New name, initials, and logo....

The logo of Thai Public Broadcast Service, Thailand’s first public television station, was shown yesterday at the Radisson Hotel, where the station’s temporary policy board convened a press conference. The station will go on air from February 1.

The Nation

[Thai at Heart]

New name, initials, and logo....

The logo of Thai Public Broadcast Service, Thailand’s first public television station, was shown yesterday at the Radisson Hotel, where the station’s temporary policy board convened a press conference. The station will go on air from February 1.

The Nation

Nice to see they are already economising on the budget by using such cheap and shabby places as the Radisson for their launch.

http://www.radisson.com/bangkokth

[Jai Dee]

Administrative Court to receive TITV employee case

The Administrative Court has scheduled a meeting today to discuss a request filed by former employees of TITV to place an injunction on the Public Relations Department decree. The Public Relations Department has declared TITV operate under a the newly effective Public Television Act.

TITV under the new act has ceased to broadcast and operate as the former channel and all of its existing contracts have been voided, including employee contracts. The former employees of the channel have asked the administrative court to cancel the department’s declaration.

The court expects to be able to come to a decision on the matter by 1 PM.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 January 2008

[Jai Dee]

Fate of TITV to be known later today

An Administrative Court's decision over a revival for TITV is due out this afternoon.

The court order will be faxed to relevant agencies at 1pm. TITV has been off air since Tuesday, to allow for the establishment of Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS), which is set to take over the assets and frequency of TITV. TPBS will operate the country's first public television station.

Following the abrupt closure of TITV, hundreds of its employees lodged a complaint with the Administrative Court demanding an injunction against the order to close down TITV. They described the order by the Public Relations Department as illegitimate.

In a related development, TPBS yesterday began accepting applications from those interested in working with the country's first public television station. On the first day, 236 applicants expressed interest. None was a TITV employee.

But TITV employees based in the North, the Northeast and the South yesterday said they planned to apply for jobs at TPBS.

The application period ends on Saturday.

TPBS acting director is Thepchai Yong, who resigned as group editor of Nation Multimedia Group (NMG) and sold all his shares in the group earlier this week.

To avoid suggestions of conflict of interest following the appointment of Thepchai to the TPBS temporary policy board, Nation Broad-casting Corporation will not seek airtime on Thai Public Broadcast-ing Service during its transitional period.

Nation Broadcasting Corpora-tion is a part of the group, which also publishes The Nation and operates Nation Channel.

"To prevent any question of conflict of interest, we will not propose any programmes to TPBS during its transitional period," the corporation's president Adisak Lim-prungpatanakij said yesterday.

However, he said Nation Broad-casting would continue to supply quality content for other television stations as it had over the past 17 years. On Tuesday, the Cabinet ap-pointed a temporary policy board for TPBS. The five-member board will remain in charge for no more than 180 days.

The board announced the service would go on air on February 1.

Thepchai said the service would select content providers transparently and fairly based on proposed programme quality and their ability to fulfil the public television's objectives. He said all providers, including NMG, could tender proposals.

Adisak said Nation Broadcasting supported the establishment of the public service.

"We will also investigate if there is any interference from the government or business-interest groups in forming and running the public service," he said.

Source: The Nation - 17 January 2008

[hammered]

Here is a good article by M.L. Nattakorn on how ITV/TITV became a piece of collateral damage in the war between the two power groups now going on. Well worth a rea din its entirety imho:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Jan2008_news21.php

[blaze]

Here is a good article by M.L. Nattakorn on how ITV/TITV became a piece of collateral damage in the war between the two power groups now going on. Well worth a rea din its entirety imho:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Jan2008_news21.php

An excellent column by a world class columnist! I was going to post it in it's entirety- thanks Hammered.

[Jai Dee]

The Nation not to produce programs for Thai PBS

President of the Nation Broadcasting Corporation Adisak Limprungpatanakij (อดิศักดิ์ ลิมปรุ่งพัฒนกิจ) says the company will not produce television programs for the Thailand Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) as The Nation Group’s former editor Thepchai Yong (เทพชัย หย่อง) was appointed as member of the Thai PBS board.

Mr Adisak says The Nation Broadcasting Corp. decided not to work with the Thai PBS to avoid criticism about conflicts of interest.

The Thai PBS was established in line with the Public Broadcasting Service Act taking effect on January 15.

Mr Adisak affirms The Nation Broadcasting Corp. will support and help inspect the Thai PBS to make sure that the television station is a true public media.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 January 2008

[sriracha john]

Court rejects TITV staff's plea to keep broadcasting

The Administrative Court yesterday decided not to grant TITV staff provisional protection against the Public Relations Department (PRD)'s order for the station to cease broadcasting. The court ruled there was no need for the provisional protection as there was no clear evidence the PRD's order for the station to halt transmissions was unlawful. TITV ceased broadcasting on Tuesday after the Public Broadcasting Service Act was enforced paving the way for the creation of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS) under an interim five-member board picked by the Prime Minister's Office and approved by the cabinet. After hearing the court verdict, former TITV executives said they will today ask the interim board to clarify its policy for dealing with the 835 former TITV staff. The deadline for job applications with the new channel is tomorrow.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/18Jan2008_news03.php

[Jai Dee]

Legal lifeline for TITV rejected

The Administrative Court refused yesterday to issue an injunction to allow TITV to resume broadcasting.

Hundreds of employees asked the court to issue the injunction following the abrupt closure of the station on Tuesday.

The court agreed to hear arguments but decided against an injunction now.

In line with the Thai Public Broadcasting Act, the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS) will take over the assets, liabilities and frequency of TITV. It will operate the country's first public television station from next month.

TPBS yesterday ran a test programme alerting viewers to the new public television. The message was broadcast in tandem with documentaries on the life of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

The broadcasts aired between 3.20pm and 5.10pm. This will continue until January 31. TPBS is due to commence proper broadcasts the next day, February 1.

Appearing on the programme called "The start of TPBS" were its chairman Kwansuang Atibhodi, board member Apichart Thongyou, Rangsit University's Anusorn Srikaew and Chatchai Chuaraman, of the public television support group.

The channel's acting president Thepchai Yong said the programme informed viewers about the start of public television, and the act.

"The stoppage of TITV to air at midnight of January 14 left the public in the dark about what happened. We needed to inform them of the history and the reason why public television has been born," he said.

Kwansuang said more than 2,000 people had applied for jobs at the station on Wednesday and yesterday.

Among them were former TITV news staff including Chairat Thomya and Paweenamai Baikhloy and technicians. He said some 400 application forms were given to TITV staff. Most were yet to submit applications because they had waited to hear the court's decision at 1pm yesterday.

In a related development, the Confederation for Democracy asked the court yesterday to rule invalid the Cabinet's appointment of an acting board for TPBS.

The group argues this is against the act's objectives for free media.

Another group calling itself June 24 Democracy yesterday denounced the closing of TITV.

It said it was a violation of press freedom, and vowed to campaign for repeal of the act, which it said was passed undemocratically.

Source: The Nation - 18 January 2008

[sriracha john]

Full circle to a new public television station

Before the 2006 military coup, Thaksin Shinawatra, the then prime minister, set up a show.

He went to one of the poorest areas of Northeast Thailand. In Roi Et's At Samat district, he implemented a project to help reduce poverty. This came to be known as the "At Samat Poverty Reduction Model".

Thaksin also invited the ambassadors from friendly countries to accompany him on this trip. During a break in the heat of Isaan, Thaksin went over to have a chat with a Western ambassador. He said: "What a relief! We do not have The Bangkok Post or The Nation here."

The Western ambassador asked: "What do you mean?"

Thaksin said: "Well, I don't care what the newspapers say. I have control over television."

Thaksin was a smart politician. He knew how to play around with public opinion. He understood that out of 63 million Thais, only two to three million read the newspapers every day.

The majority of Thais - more than 90 per cent - rely on TV as their primary source of news and information. If Thaksin could control the TV stations, all of which were under government control, he could shape public opinion.

The rural people, who represented Thaksin's political stronghold, watch TV for news and entertainment. They work most of the day before returning home at five or six o'clock in the evening. Then they turn on the TV and watch it until 10 o'clock before going to bed. So, between five and 10 o'clock, they get all the news and information that the government wants them to get.

Thaksin got hold of the majority of Thai TV viewers and had them by the hook.

Separately, he said that journalists on Thai Rath, The Daily News and Matichon newspapers, which had a combined market share of 60-70 per cent, were all his friends. He had no problem reaching out to the public.

This was the state of the Thai media during the Thaksin era. When his Shin Corp bought into iTV in late 2000, it created a stir. Should a businessman, who aimed for political power, have control over a TV station? Or was it a purely business deal? The Thai public gave Thaksin the benefit of the doubt, believing that he would not use iTV to support his political ambition.

Whether iTV had become a tool to propagate the Thaksin government was not relevant. But when his family sold Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings of Singapore, it effectively transferred ownership of a Thai TV station to a foreign entity.

From a national security perspective, this was unacceptable. Even the US does not allow foreigners to buy into its TV stations. Rupert Murdoch, the Australian-born media baron, had to become a US citizen before he was allowed to run Fox Television.

There followed a legal maneuver to revoke the iTV license and return it to the state. iTV was found to have violated the licensing contracts and was forced to pay a fine of Bt100 billion. When it failed to pay the fine, the government took its license back and renamed the station TITV. (But you don't see the government trying to take the AIS mobile-phone concession back from Temasek).

iTV, created in the wake of the May 1992 tragedy, prided itself on being a news station rather than an entertainment channel. It is the role of media historians to judge whether iTV fulfilled its role as an independent news organization, as envisioned from the start. But the 800 staffers are now crying out for help because they are not sure what the future holds for them.

From iTV to TITV and now to TPBS (Thailand Public Broadcasting Service), the TV station, with legislative support and a direct subsidy from the government, is again aspiring to become a public broadcast station. Is this a good idea? Yes, it is by all means.

It is long overdue that we have a public television station that focuses on quality news and other programming that serves the public interest without having to worry about commercial support. Most TV stations are commercial-oriented. They have failed to inform the public of the truth and have not educated people about events that affect their lives. We need good education. We need cultural programs and documentaries from our public TV station.

Many public TV stations in other countries rely on corporate and public donations or government subsidies to provide quality cultural and education programs. They may not make much money but they are good for the audience's intellectual development.

There is a big gap between the goal of TPBS and its ability to make things happen. The next six months will be a challenge for the interim management team before a permanent board steps in.

Unfortunately, the criticism around TPBS is now centering on character assassination or vested interest rather than on substance or what we expect from it. We already have too many poorly run TV stations with their endless soap operas and game shows.

Let's give TPBS a chance. If it does not deliver, we can scrap it at any time.

- The Nation Editorial

[Jai Dee]

Administrative court will not grant injunction but accepts law suit for consideration

The Administrative Court yesterday informed both plaintiffs in a petition filed by former employee’s of TITV that it would not grant an injunction as requested by the employees. Former staff of TITV had petitioned the court to cancel a government order for the channel to operate under the Public Television Act, effectively voiding all contracts held by the station.

Leading members of the employee group received a message from the Administrative Court stating that though it would not grant their request the case would not be concluded. The court has agreed to take on a law suit filed by the employees questioning the lawfulness of the recent event. The court also informed the Thai Public Broadcast Service (TPBS), which has taken the place of TITV, of its decision to take on the law suit and has asked the newly established 5 member board to give a clear statement on their stance.

Former TITV program producer Traipop Limbaphat (ไตรภพ ลิมปพัทธ์) assured the group of employee’s that even though their contracts were voided, the TPBS would be held accountable for their situation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 January 2008