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Published on February 11, 2008

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday hinted that his government would set up a new independent television station and suggested it might employ former TITV staff who lost their jobs when the station was handed over to the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS).

The premier said he would prove within a day or two that capable people could have a channel where their abilities could be put to great use.

"They will have a channel where they can work independently. Then we will see which station, the independent or the public television station, is better," Samak said to a suggestion the government should crack down on media outlets critical of the government.

"We can't see justice when the most neutral, the best and viable television station is closed," the premier said on his first weekly television show yesterday morning.

Although he did not mention the station by name, it was clear that Samak was referring to the closure of TITV and the transfer of its broadcast frequency to the recently established TPBS, the country's first public service television station.

Following the abrupt closure of TITV earlier this year, many of its staff lost their jobs.

A source in Samak's People Power Party said the government would set up the new station in the same way as iTV, by inviting bids from investors and the public to form a consortium for the new station. Launched as an independent station in 1995, iTV was last year taken over by the state and turned into TITV. The new station could be named TITV again, and some staff from the former TITV and the People's Television (PTV) could be recruited. PTV was launched by former Thai Rak Thai supporters to oppose the coup that deposed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The government has full authority to set up a new TV station as the country still has no clear regulations on the matter, the source said.

Samak declined to answer reporters' questions later yesterday on whether he planned to turn PTV into a new TITV.

He said relevant parties were working on the plan and he would not divulge anything more.

"Why didn't you see any problems when someone seized a television station that had produced good programmes and generated Bt1.2 billion income a year," Samak said. "However, it was closed and replaced by another station that needs Bt2 billion from the government each year."

TPBS is entitled to up to Bt2 billion in subsidy from the government's alcohol and tobacco taxes.

However, former TITV staff were unhappy with the idea of being offered jobs at PTV.

"I don't know his [Samak's] real objective. However, if the new TV station is a transformation of PTV, I believe former TITV staff won't join," said a former TITV news reporter who declined to be named.

The reporter disagreed with the move as politicisation of the media because PTV was set up for political purposes and not as a professional television.

Many former TITV staff are still optimistic that most of them will eventually be able to work at TPBS.

"After the three-month contracts of the current staff expire, we believe most former TITV workers will be called to TPBS," the reporter said.

PTV co-founder Jatuporn Promphan said he did not know whether the station was to become the new station that Samak spoke about. However, he said he was aware PTV was forming a new editorial structure after being closed for a while.

Jatuporn, Nattawut Sai-kua and Jakrapob Penkair left PTV to enter politics, leaving Veera Musigapong to run the station. The station will start broadcasting again on Friday, the same day as TPBS, Jatuporn said.

PTV had its broadcasts suspended and was sued by the Public Relations Department (PRD) for broadcasting without a licence. Its founders then organised anti-junta rallies at Sanam Luang and broadcast via the Internet and through subscription.

However, the station kept a low profile until the People Power Party emerged victorious in the general election.

Samak revealed yesterday that PTV founder Veera had asked his permission - which he had given - to broadcast the House session when the government announces its policy statement. When reporters reminded him that the station was being sued by the PRD for broadcasting without a licence, Samak argued that ASTV, run by the Manager Group, also broadcast without a licence.

Samak said the government would enact new laws to legalise these unlicensed stations.

Last Friday, Prime Minster's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair, who supervises state electronic media, vowed to review the  broadcasting of state-run media, including TPBS, that are funded by sin taxes.

However TPBS executives are certain the government cannot intervene in public media as it is protected by the broadcasting law.

TPBS acting director Thepchai Yong said the government had to read the law clearly before managing its system.

"The reason for establishing TPBS is that a public TV, which is free from government and business organisations, is needed," Thepchai said. "The law states clearly what the missions of TPBS are. It has to disseminate news, information and knowledge to the public. I don't know whether the government had read the law clearly or not before it talked about TPBS a few days ago."

Thepchai said he did not know the reasons for forming a new independent TV channel.

"To have more media is good for the public so that they have more alternatives. However, I'm not sure about its format and the purpose of forming the channel so I will not express any opinions on the issue," he said.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn,

Wannapa Phetdee

The Nation