Cabinet Meeting To Decide Future Of UHF Television Stations Today

[Jai Dee]

Cabinet meeting to decide future of UHF television stations today

The Cabinet meeting today (April 24th) will decide whether UHF television stations will be managed as a free or public media. Meanwhile, the committee listening to the public’s opinions on UHF television stations prepares to draft an Act concerning broadcasting business in Thailand.

Chairwoman of the committee listening to the public’s opinions on UHF television stations, Darunee Hiranrak (ดรุณี หิรัญรักษ์) says the issue of UHF television stations will be clarified during the Cabinet meeting today. The chairwoman also voices the committee's readiness in implementing the Cabinet’s decision. However, it is up to the government whether it will launch a short-term or a long-term plan on the management of the television stations, she adds.

In addition, Somkiat Tangwanich (สมเกียรติ ตั้งวานิช), a member of the committee, says he thinks UHF television stations should be run as a public media to prevent business tycoons from influencing the stations. If the stations are managed as a free media, they need advertisements and financial support from business tycoons. However, he says a public media can be transformed into a free one if laws concerning the country’s media are amended.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 April 2007

[Shah Jahan]

Cabinet meeting to decide future of UHF television stations today

The Cabinet meeting today (April 24th) will decide whether UHF television stations will be managed as a free or public media. Meanwhile, the committee listening to the public’s opinions on UHF television stations prepares to draft an Act concerning broadcasting business in Thailand.

Chairwoman of the committee listening to the public’s opinions on UHF television stations, Darunee Hiranrak (ดรุณี หิรัญรักษ์) says the issue of UHF television stations will be clarified during the Cabinet meeting today. The chairwoman also voices the committee's readiness in implementing the Cabinet’s decision. However, it is up to the government whether it will launch a short-term or a long-term plan on the management of the television stations, she adds.

In addition, Somkiat Tangwanich (สมเกียรติ ตั้งวานิช), a member of the committee, says he thinks UHF television stations should be run as a public media to prevent business tycoons from influencing the stations. If the stations are managed as a free media, they need advertisements and financial support from business tycoons. However, he says a public media can be transformed into a free one if laws concerning the country’s media are amended.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 April 2007

translation: "no want thaksin run itv"