About 1,000 iTV staff yesterday rejoiced at the reprieve for their embattled channel, which was previously slated for a temporary shutdown during its transition from a privately owned to a state-owned station.

iTV's name, however, evaporated overnight, as it is now called TITV.

After the Council of State ruled that the Public Relations Department (PRD) could legally run the channel, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont immediately ordered that the channel be allowed to continue broadcasting without interruption.

"We're glad our channel still exists. My heart sinks at the thought that the name iTV will no longer exist, though," iTV reporter Thira Thanya-ananphon said yesterday.

He was among iTV staff gathered at the Central Administrative Court.

On Tuesday, staff members petitioned the court to issue an injunction against the decision by the PM's Office to close down the channel temporarily, pending a ruling by the Council of State on whether the PRD could run the embattled station.

The court was expected to issue a ruling last night before press time.

iTV must undergo the transition after its private owner failed to pay more than Bt100 billion in concession fees and fines to its concession granter, the PM's Office. The concession was terminated this week.

The station previously appeared set to be taken off air while legal complications relating to its operations were sorted out. On Tuesday, the PM's Office asked the Council of State to rule whether it could assign the PRD to operate iTV and ordered the station's temporary shutdown, pending the legal interpretation.

Giving the iTV case urgent attention, the Council of State yesterday ruled that the PRD could manage the station.

"After we informed the premier of the ruling by the Council of State, he ordered that screens must not go blank when people tune into iTV," said PM's Office permanent secretary Jullayuth Hiranyawasit.

Council of State secretary-general Pornthip Jala made it clear from the very beginning that the Council would rule on whether it was legally possible for the PRD to run iTV. She said any other decision regarding iTV's fate would be up to Surayud, PM's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan and the Cabinet.

Dhipavadee said PRD director-general Pramoj Rathavinij told her that iTV programmes could be broadcast as usual from the PRD's broadcasting station.

"He said it was possible to do so right away," Dhipavadee said.

Pramoj gave a separate assurance that his agency was fully capable of managing iTV. "We are 100 per cent ready," he said.

He also vowed not to interfere with the channel's programming and editorial independence. This means the ratio of news versus entertainment content will remain at 70:30.

The PRD, an agency under the PM's Office, has run Channel 11. With PRD readiness, iTV can continue broadcasting without interruption but has to move from its old headquarters in the Shinawatra 3 Building to the PRD's building.

"iTV staff will produce the content, and we will broadcast it," Pramoj said.

He said the PRD would seek a budget of Bt90 million a month from the PM's Office to advance operational costs for iTV, which generally earns about Bt130 million and spends about Bt100 million a month. The money will be returned to the PM's Office later.

"We're willing to continue hiring iTV staff. It will be as if the PRD hires iTV to produce programmes. For companies having contracts with iTV, the PRD will replace iTV as the contract party," Pramoj explained.

Speaking at a press conference attended by 700 iTV staff, Pramoj said salaries and welfare benefits would remain the same but that they would become employees of the PRD.

He also said iTV staff could seek severance pay from iTV.

At one point during the press conference, Pramoj excused himself to answer a phone call from PM Surayud. When he returned, he said Surayud had urged iTV staff to continue their news-reporting duties.

"The premier also offers his congratulations to all of you," Pramoj said to the cheers of iTV staff.

Jullayuth said iTV staff members could sign new employment contracts with the PRD if they wished to continue working for the channel. On how to take action against iTV, he said his agency would ask the Attorney-General's Office to help with legal matters.

"We want to look into the possibility of demanding compensation and a bankruptcy suit," he said.

Dhipavadee said the iTV problem stemmed from the company's management, which breached its contract regarding programming content.

"The management in fact should come out to apologise to the staff," she said.

Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said the iTV staff should demand an explanation and compensation from their management, not the government.

"Why are the managers allowed to get off scot-free without having to show any responsibility?" he asked.