NBTC fear of political control over media

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NBTC fear of political control over media
THE NATION

Official makes case for enforcement of rules on limit on shareholdings

BANGKOK: -- A MEMBER of the spectrum licensing body's broadcasting committee is concerned that if there is no enforcement of the rules governing the auction of digital TV licences in terms of a cap on shareholdings, this will pave the way for politically motivated investors to easily take over media channels and use them for their own political interest at public expense.

Thawatchai Jittrapanun, member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)'s broadcasting committee, made the remarks at a seminar on people's rights in the era of mergers and acquisitions in the media sector. The event was co-hosted by Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communications Arts, Chulalongkorn University's Social Research Institute, and The Child and Youth Media Institute (CYMI).

As part of the auction rules, a major shareholder was not allowed to hold more than 10 per cent of other companies in the same licence category. The "major shareholder" is not only defined as a person or juristic person allowed to have ownership of not more than 10 per cent of the company, but also mutual beneficiaries.

The case is related to the broadcasting regulator's decision on Monday regarding the controversial case of the alleged violation by News Network Corporation (NEWS), formerly known as Solution Corner (1998) or SLC, of the rules governing the auction of digital-TV licences. This decision on the legitimacy of the acquisition of a 12.27-per-cent stake in NMG by SLC was delayed twice since last year.

Two of the five broadcasting committee members - Supinya Klangnarong and Thawatchai - voted that the digital TV auction rules against hegemony should remain valid.

Two other members - Natee Sukonrat, who is the broadcasting committee chairman, and Pol Colonel Taweesak Ngamsanga - abstained on the grounds that the auction's rules for digital TV licences should not be enforced after the fact. The other member, Lt-General Peerapong Manakit, voted against applying the rules against NEWS. This 2:2:1 voting outcome means the committee cannot take any action on the case.

NMG will petition the Administrative Court against Natee, Taweesak, and Peerapong for alleged dereliction of duty in deciding the legitimacy of SLC's stake in NMG.

A panellist at the seminar, Suwanna Jitprapas, adviser to the Foundation for Consumers, said the foundation would ask these three commissioners to explain more reasons behind their decision. She added that the broadcasting committee should also submit for the NBTC board's consideration whether such auction rules should be enforced after the auction ended.

She shared similar concern as Thawatchai that without such enforcement, groups of investors with political interest would make attempts to take control of digital TV channels, which means consumer choices for diverse content would be limited and viewers might get one-sided news from digital TV channels.

Another panellist, Pijitra Tsukamoto, assistant professor of the Chulalongkorn University' Communication Arts faculty, said that one should not only pay attention to terrestrial digital TV channels but also other media platforms - from cable TV to satellite TV channels - whether their merger and acquisitions are politically motivated in order to dominate the cable and satellite TV channels.

SLC is a major shareholder of Springnews Corporation, which owns 100 per cent of digital channel licence holder Springnews Television.

NMG's subsidiary Nation Broadcasting Corporation owns 100 per cent of NBC Next Vision, which holds the digital TV licence. It runs Nation TV, another digital television station.

Entire team replaced in SC 1988 cases

The entire team of Department of Special Investigation agents assigned to probe alleged stock manipulation by Solution Corner 1988 Co has been replaced after all 14 cases were dropped by public prosecutors.

A source said Suwanna Sarajutha, director-general of the DSI, recently issued an order for the change of personnel, following "concerns and lack of confidence" raised by a team of officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission that conducted the past probes involving SLC.

A new team, led by senior agent Songsak Raksaksakul, was more than halfway to completing its work. About 30 witnesses, mostly SEC officials, have already been interviewed.

The DSI would need just a little more time to finish compiling and analysing transaction and accounting records that would implicate the alleged wrongdoers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NBTC-fear-of-political-control-over-media-30256701.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-25

[smedly]

This is all about who is in who's pocket, not only with the broadcasters but also with the NBTC

If clear rules exist then NBTC members have no option but to enforce them in a clear cut case such as this - it seems some of them failed to do so - they should be investigated to find out why - I have my own thoughts on the matter

[Srikcir]

"groups of investors with political interest would make attempts to take control of digital TV channels, which means consumer choices for diverse content would be limited and viewers might get one-sided news from digital TV channels."

Shouldn't the NBTC make the military abandon its radio and TV broadcasts?