Court dismisses PM's Office iTV fine petition

General News - Thursday December 20, 2007

BROADCASTING / CASE REFERRED TO ARBITRATION PANEL

Court dismisses PM's Office iTV fine petition

The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday dismissed a petition filed by the office of the permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office seeking a fine of about 100 billion baht from iTV Plc for an alleged breach of contract.

The court ruled that any dispute between the two parties over their broadcasting concession contract must be settled through an arbitration committee, not the court.

The ruling yesterday upheld the Central Administrative Court's verdict.

The permanent secretary's office had asked the court to order iTV to pay a fine of about 100 billion baht, saying iTV had breached the contract between them by failing to pay concession fees and maintain the original programme structure agreed in the contract.

However, iTV argued that under the concession contract their dispute must be settled through arbitration, and the Supreme Administrative Court backed the company's position.

As a result, an arbitration committee will be set up. Its chairman is to be selected by representatives of the two parties in the dispute.

Srirat Ratanadilok na Phuket, a lawyer for iTV, said Vitch Jirapaet, a director-general for rights protection from the Office of the Attorney-General, has been appointed to represent the permanent secretary's office on the arbitration panel. iTV has yet to appoint a representative.

Bangkok Post