BROADCASTING / PANEL GATHERING PUBLIC VIEWS

Final talks on TITV's future today

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

A committee responsible for gathering public views about the future of the TITV will today hold final talks before submitting its position to the government.

Committee chairwoman Darunee Hiranrak, dean of the Faculty of Communication Arts at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, expected the committee could pass its report to Prime Minister's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan today.

But Ms Darunee said the cabinet would decide the fate of TITV after the Songkran holidays.

She was optimistic that the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, would make the decision without giving benefits to a particular group or person.

The panel, set up on March 14 by Khunying Dhipavadee, was given 30 days to complete the task. The government assigned the panel to hold public hearings nationwide.

TITV was formerly called iTV.

The last forum was held in Bangkok at the Public Relations Department (PRD) on Thursday.

The PRD took over iTV and changed its name to TITV after the station failed to pay he Prime Minister's Office fees and fines totalling 103 billion baht for a contract violation.

After the takeover last month, the station returned its news and entertainment programming ratio to 70:30 from 50:50.

Public opinion is divided over TITV's future. Some social activists want to make it a public service station while the operators have suggested it remain an independent broadcaster.

In principle, being a public television station would mean it would not make a profit from advertising revenue.

The station would receive financial support mainly from public donations, ''sin taxes'' and funding by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

If it remains an independent station, 51% of the shares will be distributed to the public and the rest will be sold to non-government organisations working for social and human development. It would be able to make profits from advertisements.

Ms Darunee said the committee would not jump to any conclusions on which option was better.

It must make recommendations and report what the public was thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of the two models.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Tuesday April 10, 2007