Sceptics abound as to whether the public service model is the right thing for Thailand's Independent Television (TITV).

Even staff members at TITV are doubtful, arguing that the station could end up like the lacklustre state-owned Channel 11.

To set the record straight, a public service TV format is different from that of Channel 11, for the former would essentially belongs to the citizens collectively, not to the state or the government.

Still, such doubts are not invalid, given that there are few public service TV channels that are successful around the world. These include the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC), Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) of the US and NHK of Japan.

According to the public service TV bill, which will be considered soon by the National Legislative Assembly, a special tax earmarked by the Excise Department will be used to directly fund the new station.

In addition, the station will carry no commercial advertising so it can be independent of both politicians in power and big business.

In other words, the Finance Ministry, if unhappy with the station, will not be able to cut the station's budget, or a big corporate will be less able to influence editorial decisions or coverage by threatening to pull multi-million-baht ads from the station.

The public TV proponents also argue that the country already has several commercial stations, so there is no need for one more.

Moreover, they said a commercial station's contents are basically dictated by commercial interests and consumerism, whereas the public still lacks a station solely for citizens' common interests.

While the proponents' objectives may sound lofty, the real challenge will probably be how successfully this policy can be implemented - in regard to funding and popular ratings.

The first hurdle - to get funding free from political or big business interests - may not be too difficult, if the proposed law which will set up the public TV station is well written and enforcement thereafter is effective.

According to proponents, the station would need an estimated Bt1.7 billion annually to produce quality programmes, including news, current affairs, children's shows, documentaries, dramas, science and technology series, and other "edu-tainment".

About half of this amount would come from the special excise tax, while the rest would be contributed from various state education, public health, science & technology and other funds, plus public donations.

The second hurdle, however, will be much more difficult - how to make the new station popular and competitive to justify its existence.

According to proponents, there will be four committees to take charge of the new station's policy direction, management, editorial oversight, and citizens' participation.

As a public organisation, the station's board of directors and top management will be recruited professionally and transparently to ensure that the founding objectives can be achieved.

Still, as they often say, the devil will be in the detail.

Unlike commercial TV stations such as Channel 3, Channel 5, Channel 9, or the former iTV, the public TV station is not consumerist, or geared toward the market or maximum profits. It will be geared towards the public and consumers' interests.

This will be the hardest thing to achieve.

In addition, the proposed station will not be a government mouthpiece and should be free to criticise the government if any policies are bad for the public, or if there is corruption.

This will also be another hard act to follow.

In short, it's visionary, but is it going to really happen?

Nophakhun

Limsamarnphun

The Nation