RS customers to get full refunds

[Lite Beer]

RS customers to get full refunds
Watchiranont Thongtep
The Nation

An elephant adorned with the Russian flag, centre, kicks a ball during a performance to celebrate the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, on Khao San Road, the well-known tourist street in Bangkok yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- RS customers will receive a full Bt1,590 refund if they want to return the FIFA World Cup set-top box while the Bt299 subscription fee to watch the Brazilian event will also be refunded.

Chief operating officer Pornpan Techarungchaikul said that RS had prepared two remedies for people unhappy over the public being given free-to-air access to live telecasts of the 64 World Cup matches via the Army-owned TV5, Channel 7 and Channel 8.

However, Pornpan insisted that the benefits of its exclusive content-bundled "World Cup boxes" remain unchanged.

Customers can watch live feeds of all the matches, replays of matches and special programmes related to the tournament as well as 380 live Spanish La Liga matches next season.

To get a refund, the set-top box has to be returned to the company’s warehouse in Rangsit or returned via parcel post.

On Thursday, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) voted 6-1 to approve a Bt427-million subsidy to be paid to the Cup's broadcast-rights licensee RS International Broadcasting and Sport Management, a subsidiary of RS, as compensation for losses incurred after the company agreed to "unlock" the matches for TV5, Channel 7 and Channel 8 to access.

Under the original plan, the company reserved only 22 live matches for Channel 7 and Channel 8 while the remaining live matches were to be available via its pay-TV channel PSI Digital O2 HD and True Visions using the set-top box.

RS has already made Bt650 million in revenue from the event, mainly from sponsorship.

The figure excludes the NBTC compensation figure, the Bt30 million True Visions paid RS for accessing the tournament, the Bt477 million it made selling some 300,000 set-top boxes and Bt30 million in subscription revenue.

Apart from the refund budget, RS has to pay approximately Bt10 million for leasing additional airtime on TV5 for the telecast of 38 matches. Subscribers who paid the Bt299 one-time package to watch matches have to contact the company's call centre if they want their money back.

Surachai Chetchotisak, chief executive officer of RS, told a separate press conference that the company would use some of the Bt427-million subsidy in the remedy scheme.

"What we will get cannot be compared with what we lose," Surachai said.

-- The Nation 2014-06-14

[Somtamnication]

Quite an unfair deal for the company. Essentially forced to do this. Broadcast by shotgun.

[Tatsujin]

Quite an unfair deal for the company. Essentially forced to do this. Broadcast by shotgun.

A tad unfair, yes, but they're not losing out I believe, just not making as much as they expected.

I'd be interested to know "who" has stakes in RS . . . I have my suspicions . . .

[Chao Lao Beach]

Who is behind RS ?

[BradinAsia]

Quite an unfair deal for the company. Essentially forced to do this. Broadcast by shotgun.

650 million + 427 million = over 1 billion baht and you think RS is being treated unfairly?

The whole economic system is designed for the fat cats to get fatter, and governments,

as in this case, are all too willing to aid and abet in this effort to help the rich.

Or am I missing something here?

[tomyummer]

So how much did RS pay FIFA for the license? I heard it was 2 billion baht.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[MobileContent]

I will stay with RS as it is dual-tone and I can follow the Games in English.

I think Singapore had the highest bid in ASEAN for the WorldCup at 21 million S$. I would say RS didn't paid more then 500 million Baht but who knows the real number.

[PLW]

Does the free access cover bars and restaurants?

[stickyrice2000]

These people have to thank the junta for the extra money to increase on the soccer bets.

[Somtamnication]

Quite an unfair deal for the company. Essentially forced to do this. Broadcast by shotgun.

650 million + 427 million = over 1 billion baht and you think RS is being treated unfairly?

The whole economic system is designed for the fat cats to get fatter, and governments,

as in this case, are all too willing to aid and abet in this effort to help the rich.

Or am I missing something here?

One needs to only look at Argentina and Venezuela, when governments force businesses to lower prices below their cost. Populist policies do not work for long.

[MMarlow]

A tad unfair, yes, but they're not losing out I believe, just not making as much as they expected.

I'd be interested to know "who" has stakes in RS . . . I have my suspicions . . .

1. Mr. Surachai Chetchotisak Chairman / Chief Executive Officer

2. Mrs. Pornpan Techarungchaikul Director / Secretary to the Board of Directors and Company Secretary /Chief Operating Officer

3. Mr. Darm Nana Director / Chief Financial Officer

4. Mr. Danaisidh Peslapunt Director / Executive Vice President – Central Legal Office

5. Mr. Sorat Vanichvarakij Director

6. Mr. Sutthisak Prasatkrarukarn Director / Managing Director, Thai Copyright Collection Co.,Ltd.

7. Mr. Phisit Dachanabhirom Independent Director and Audit Committee Chairman

8. General Pairoj Panichsamai Independent Director and Audit Committee

9. Associate Professor Witaya Danthamrongkul Independent Director and Audit Committee

Where your suspicions correct?

Edited June 14, 2014 by MMarlow

[Tatsujin]

A tad unfair, yes, but they're not losing out I believe, just not making as much as they expected.

I'd be interested to know "who" has stakes in RS . . . I have my suspicions . . .

1. Mr. Surachai Chetchotisak Chairman / Chief Executive Officer

2. Mrs. Pornpan Techarungchaikul Director / Secretary to the Board of Directors and Company Secretary /Chief Operating Officer

3. Mr. Darm Nana Director / Chief Financial Officer

4. Mr. Danaisidh Peslapunt Director / Executive Vice President Central Legal Office

5. Mr. Sorat Vanichvarakij Director

6. Mr. Sutthisak Prasatkrarukarn Director / Managing Director, Thai Copyright Collection Co.,Ltd.

7. Mr. Phisit Dachanabhirom Independent Director and Audit Committee Chairman

8. General Pairoj Panichsamai Independent Director and Audit Committee

9. Associate Professor Witaya Danthamrongkul Independent Director and Audit Committee

Where your suspicions correct?

Partly that, but I was talking about shareholding, structure of company, who owns what etc ... but I meant really who exactly has the real influence, cos its not always what you find in the public domain

[Tanlic]

Can anyone tell me if Spain V Holland was on Thai TV ?

[DieterWiehe]

Quite an unfair deal for the company. Essentially forced to do this. Broadcast by shotgun.

not shotgun but M16

[belg]

if fussbon so important to the nation (do they even have a team up there) that this private enterprise has to be shut down or pay money back ?

[Jim walker]

What on earth does the army need TV channels for I could understand if their brave boys were constantly fighting away from home in some far off foreign land for some good cause and want a bit of home TV on their R&R, otherwise TV ownership could be used for brain washing and military propaganda.

[bananafish]

So, who's losing out here?

[pbeieio]

Does antibody recall the debacle 4 years ago?

I paid True Corp 2,000 (approx.) for a new HD box with the promise of viewing the 2010 world cup with English commentary.

Well it just did not happen, they just lied!

In the UK the world cup is covered by the BBC and ITV.

Such "'world events" should be broadcast here by "free to air" channels and not monopolised by greedy opportunists.

Frankly I hope RS and True et -al go broke!

[tullynagardy]

Non one is mentioning who has to compensate RS - The Taxpayer!!!

Between this waste of millions and tripling (an already unaffordable) infrastructure budget, its clear to see this junta is fiscally irresponsible and plunging Thailand closer to the brink.

That aside what company is going to invest in a country where the ruling power arbitarily over rides legal contracts for a "happiness" campaign?

[MaxLee]

Refund or not, who would like to physically return their special satellite boxes through all the crowded traffic jam, waste more fuel and gasoline money and time just for the sake of refund???

Anyone?

You get it???

[tangcoral]

How much were these RS boxes?

[dinom]

I thought elephants were not anymore aloud on Bangkok streets? (For obvious reasons like animal welfare aso)

[stoneyboy]

How much were these RS boxes?

I recall seeing them in Lotus for around baht 1600

[surangw]

Who is behind RS ?

definitely not someone "connections "

[Johpa]

One needs to only look at Argentina and Venezuela, when governments force businesses to lower prices below their cost. Populist policies do not work for long.

Nor do government policies that allow the private sector to charge more than the populace can afford for items deemed basic needs by that same populace, such as the price of bread or, thanks rather ironically to the advertising of the private sector, the right, the need, to watch the World Cup.

[cmsally]

A tad unfair, yes, but they're not losing out I believe, just not making as much as they expected.

I'd be interested to know "who" has stakes in RS . . . I have my suspicions . . .

1. Mr. Surachai Chetchotisak Chairman / Chief Executive Officer

2. Mrs. Pornpan Techarungchaikul Director / Secretary to the Board of Directors and Company Secretary /Chief Operating Officer

3. Mr. Darm Nana Director / Chief Financial Officer

4. Mr. Danaisidh Peslapunt Director / Executive Vice President Central Legal Office

5. Mr. Sorat Vanichvarakij Director

6. Mr. Sutthisak Prasatkrarukarn Director / Managing Director, Thai Copyright Collection Co.,Ltd.

7. Mr. Phisit Dachanabhirom Independent Director and Audit Committee Chairman

8. General Pairoj Panichsamai Independent Director and Audit Committee

9. Associate Professor Witaya Danthamrongkul Independent Director and Audit Committee

Where your suspicions correct?

Partly that, but I was talking about shareholding, structure of company, who owns what etc ... but I meant really who exactly has the real influence, cos its not always what you find in the public domain

General Pairoj Panichsamai looks like an interesting one. Also comes up on the board of Thai Airways and collecting flood donation with Gen. Sonthi from TMB

[ChoakMyDee]

Many millions of dollars? A bunch of guys kicking a ball around in a field?

[bananafish]

Many millions of dollars? A bunch of guys kicking a ball around in a field?

What?

[ChoakMyDee]

Many millions of dollars? A bunch of guys kicking a ball around in a field?

What?

Are you having a problem with English? Perhaps you can try Google translate.

[bananafish]

Many millions of dollars? A bunch of guys kicking a ball around in a field?

What?

Are you having a problem with English? Perhaps you can try Google translate.

See from reading that response, I'm given the impression that you understand how and when to use question marks in the context of a discussion. In your previous response you demonstrate the inability to do such a thing, instead coming across like the character mongo from Blazing Saddles.

Edited June 14, 2014 by bananafish