"Today is my last day hosting this programme ... " was heard before her voiced was muted and replaced by music. Her remarks stunned co-hosts Wanchai Sonsiri and Pramarn Luengwatthanawanich.

She later said she would make a statement regarding her resignation today at the October 14 Memorial at 1pm. The full announcement before Mallika's voice was muted from the show was: "Today is my last day hosting this programme as this television station has been heavily criticised and questioned. I have something personal to say, to broach with you. Those interested are welcome to hear it at the October 14 Memorial at 1pm."

Mallika refused to tell a call-in audience during a later evening radio programme she also hosts about her statement but said: "There are many other things about TITV the public should know, and I will tell them at the October 14 Memorial." A source said Mallika had been so upset about her colleagues' demand for continued broadcasts on Wednesday - when iTV's concession officially expired - that she had stayed at home. Her colleagues then sought her immediate dismissal by seeking signatures in retaliation.

Meanwhile former iTV staff yesterday received their salaries and severance pay from iTV Plc.

However, the staff are already working for TITV, the new name of the erstwhile iTV station. The PM's Office has assigned its Public Relations Department (PRD) to manage the station.

Requesting anonymity, one of the staff said the severance pay brought no happiness to her and her colleagues.

"We should prefer to be working for iTV, and we are now worried about the status of our new workplace. Things remain unclear," she said.

She said some colleagues had big financial burdens because they needed to repay housing loans and pay car leases. "The only ones who are happy about the severance pay are the ones that have second jobs to fall back on," she said.

Thira Thanya-ananphon, a former news announcer for iTV, said the PRD and TITV board should issue a clear policy on the station's direction.

"It should be made clear at the very beginning that TITV will not go under the bureaucratic system, and that it will be able to serve public interests without interference from the government. We want to see a clear organisational structure," he added.

Thira also complained that someone had tried to mislead society when accusing iTV staff of doing everything to protect their own interests.

Many people, he said, have questioned why the staff kept making demands of the government without struggling against their iTV executives.

"There's no use in talking about the past. We want to have time to think and do something better," he said.

Meanwhile Associate Professor Piyakul Lawansiri of Thammasat University's Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communications said the government should not resort to double standards when handling the channel's staff.

"They should receive legal protection like employees of other private companies. I disagree with the government providing special care," she said. Piyakul said that in the short term the government needed to advance Bt90 million to the station for operational costs.

"The station is different from other private businesses in that its operations affect the national interest and public good," she said.

She added that the station was profitable and the government should be able to recoup the money soon.

However, she urged the government to exercise caution if it invested in the station in the long run. "The money does not belong to the government. It belongs to everyone in this country," she said.