Thailand should take the golden opportunity presented by TITV to reorganise the country's TV media structure and create public and independent TV stations, according to academic and media representatives.

At a forum entitled "Independent Media … the Possibility for Thai Society", held yesterday by the Office of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, academics and media experts shared ideas about promoting TITV as a real independent TV station and Channel 11 as a public TV station free of interference from the State or big business interests.

Most agreed that now was an opportunity for the interim government to create the country's first real public TV station.

Somkiat Tangkitvanich, research director (Information Economy) at the TDRI, said that the ideal for Thailand was to have both public and independent TV stations.

"However, if I had to make a choice urgently, public TV would be the priority - by making TITV into such a station," said Somkiat.

He said the government could then reorganise Channel 11, which is now under the Public Relations Department, as an independent station run by a private company.

Somkiat said the definition of public television channel is one that provides media space for people to discuss any issues of public interest and to propagate ideas that would be of benefit to society. Public TV should also be independent from any government or business interference.

Somkiat said the government would need to spend almost Bt1.1 billion to finance a public TV station with "medium-quality" content and almost Bt1.7 billion for "high-quality" content. The government could allocate "sin taxes" (such as those charged to liquor and cigarettes) to subsidise a new public TV station.

He said iTV had been created with the original intent of it being free from government interference. However, iTV was not independent of a group of private entrepreneurs and it relied heavily on the concession system. He said the relationship between political and investment groups in Thai society was very close.

Wasan Paileeklee, an adviser to the Thai Broadcast Journalists' Association, said the interim government now had an opportunity to revolutionise the country's media structure, particularly in regard to satellite TV, electronic media, mobile TV and IPTV.

"Frankly, public TV will never happen if the government is concerned about its own benefits. However, the interim government, which has strong ethics and concern for the country's well-being, has a very good chance to establish this kind of public TV," said Wasan.

There is great momentum in the market as most people support the idea of public TV. The government itself has a policy of making public TV a reality to keep up with the country's fast-changing society and politics, he added

"In my opinion, I would like TITV to become an independent TV station run by a private company and free from any interference. I would also like to see Channel 11 become a public TV station, which has been the primary ambition of the station since it was created," said Wasan.

He agreed with Somkiat that the creation of a public TV station should be a priority.

He said the TV media structure should be reorganised to create clear distinctions and space for three major TV media: community TV, public TV and commercial TV.

The Nation Broadcasting president Adisak Limprungpatanakij said the best scenario would be to make Channel 11 a public TV station by removing it from the Public Relations Department to avoid any interference from the government or State agencies.

"The advantage of Channel 11 becoming a public TV station is that it has a strong network with another eight sub TV channels that could serve the demand for good public television in provincial communities throughout the kingdom.

"On the other hand, TITV originated through the concession system, has private-sector investment in all of its infrastructure and relies on advertising revenue and return on investment as top priorities," said Adisak.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation