The Civil Service Commission yesterday approved setting up a unit to operate TITV on a short-term basis as a non-profit, state-owned television station.

TITV will mainly serve its supervisory body, the Public Relations Department (PRD). The PRD had pushed for the establishment of a special delivery unit (SDU) to run TITV after many other methods had been rejected. Cabinet approval of the commission's decision is expected this month.

PM's Office Minister Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan, who supervises the PRD, said TITV's programming would be revised or readjusted every six months and all employees would be hired on a six-month contractual basis.

Programming other than the packages mandated by the PRD could be broadcast with sponsorship but not with the objective of making a profit, Dhipavadee said.

Given Cabinet's long-term goal of transforming TITV into a public television station, Dhipavadee stressed the importance of revising programming and hiring all employees every six months. "There is no specification for how long the approved SDU will run TITV," she added.

The SDU will be called "The Office of the Administration of the UHF Radio/Television Affairs" and run by a five-member board.

Commission secretary-general Thossaphorn Sirisamphan said qualifications for the board members had not been set yet and it had not been decided whether they even needed to be media professionals.  Staff numbers will be specified by the PRD after its estimates the volume of work. Thossaphorn said it was possible that not all of TITV's existing staff would be hired to work under the new structure.

PM's Office permanent secretary Jullayuth Hiranyawasit said the PRD would handle all budgetary matters involving TITV. It will seek Finance Ministry approval to directly deal with the station's finances as well as Cabinet approval for tax exemption on new equipment.

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation