If i run a TV in my restaurant showing programs on sophon cable do we need a permit from them for public broadcasting of the programs?

Just concerned as the clampdown the police have been making around pattaya on thai music being played around bars and stuff without licenses from grammy etc people getting fined, is it the same situation with Sophon and UBC?

To be 100% correct Yes you do.

It is all down to PRS (performers rights society..i think) this is a UK organisation but now here in Thailand for about 7 years

You need the licence if you show any pre-recorded or tv programmes to more that 5 people at anyone time as a business tool (even if no sound is played)

I had a friend who was fined about 6 years ago for showing a video tape recording of UK comedy in his restaurant.

The cost of the licence for TV was about 200 baht a year (not the PRS one..that is calculated on how many customers you have and how many hours music is played daily )

cost may have changed over the years