The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has proposed six choices to set up a public TV network, but there is no option for viewers' direct sponsorship.

Dr Ubonrat Siriyuwasak, a lecturer in Chulalongkorn University's faculty of communication arts and chairperson of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, said truly public TV should be sponsored by the general public, rather than depending solely on the state.

Debates have started as to which model is most suited for creating a public network following the government's revocation of the former iTV's broadcasting licence.

Choices include setting up a new station or transforming Channel 11 or the former iTV into the public network, entirely using the state investment and operating budget.

The government expects to finish these public hearings and come up with a policy decision by the end of April.

TDRI researcher Somkiat Tangkitvanich, who conducted the research on these choices, said technically Channel 11 and the renamed TITV were the two suitable choices.

"Personally, I think TITV is the most practical one," he added.

According to Somkiat, the government should divert the "sin" tax (from tobacco and alcohol taxes) to finance the set-up of a public TV network, along with the use of other funds and donations.

No adverts will be allowed except those from state organisations.

"Having learned about this, I think all these six choices are not really for so-called public TV," Ubonrat said, adding that it would be difficult to ensure public TV would be free of state intervention when the state sponsors the network.

"The past lesson has been proven. After Bloody May in 1992, we tried to create a TV station free from state intervention and we got iTV, which later faced serious intervention from the big capitalists, especially those in politics.

"So we should now demand a TV station with no state or big-business intervention. We must design it carefully to not allow any loophole  for such mistakes again."

Ubonrat recommends turning TITV into public TV through charging every viewing household an annual fee.

"If we collect Bt300 per household, we could get some B4.5 billion from 15 million households with TV. That is enough for running even two stations," she said.

For Somkiat, it's a great idea but "too idealistic".

However, Ubonrat said the government should at least give it a try

Wasan Phaileeklee, adviser to the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, said it was illogical to expect the coup-installed government to create a truly public TV network.

Wasan said TITV should continue to operate as the "independent" TV network and then state-owned Channel 11 could become the public network.

"TITV has its own history and values, even though previous ownership was the problem. So, we should just fix that problem. It's better it stays as a privately operated network, while Channel 11's main goal is more like what is called public TV," Wasan said.

Wasan has worked in various media organisations, including the BBC in London, Channel 7, radio stations and the former iTV. He is also on the committee drafting a master plan for national broadcasting affairs.

Despite the different stands, Ubonrat, Somkiat and Wasan share common ground on one agenda: the reform of the whole media system.

"We should not talk only about TITV or Channel 11 but the whole media system. Media reform will balance the power of state, capital and politicians. Society needs it urgently," Ubonrat said.

Wasan agreed and said he was dreaming of seeing a media system with three components: community-based media, public media and private media at a proportion of 20 per cent, 20 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.

"A certain percentage of income from privately owned media would be allocated to a new media fund that would support the community-based media. The public media would partly receive support from the fund as well. But it also could have some income from donations and corporate [not commercial] adverts from state authorities," Wasan said.

Somkiat said he strongly supported media reform.

"The question is how to proceed. My proposal is aiming to turn ideology into practice. Of course, we cannot get it all when implementing, but at least we can make a significant step today," he said.

"If everything follows the plan, we should be able to finalise the public TV establishment within this government."

From next week until the middle of April, an ad-hoc committee established by General Surayud Chulanont's government will conduct public hearings through two state-owned TV stations, Channel 11 and TITV, over the controversial public-TV issue.

Two major questions include the definition of public TV and how to get public-TV stations.

One choice would be to turn TITV into public TV based on the current assessment, several critics said.

"The answer should come out from the hearing. We would like the public nationwide to make a decision on whether to establish our first public TV and how," a source at the hearing committee told The Nation.

Last week, some 40 members of the National Legislative Assembly proposed a bill to establish an independent broadcasting organisation. The organisation is expected to oversee the proposed public TV station.

Kamol Sukin

The Nation