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Others, like Chulalongkorn University mass communications lecturer Ubonrat Siriyuwasak preferred to adopt a more cautious approach on the matter, as Jakrapob appears to be caught in the middle of a political storm.

"Jakrapob reflects the political threat to the media," Uajit, the chairperson of the Civil Media Development Institute, told The Nation.

His remark came as the opposition launched impeachment proceedings against Jakrapob for allegedly abusing his power over setting up NBT.

He and other experts were also speaking before Jakrapob's resignation yesterday.

Some media claimed a company unfairly and speedily received approval to produce content for NBT in what they saw as favouritism.

They said the Bt45 million paid to the Public Relations Department (PRD) was too little.

A pro-Thaksin newspaper was accused of sharing the same address from which two of the competing contractors sent bids to the department.

Uajit said there were grounds to believe the PRD, which was under Jakrapob, may have unfairly favoured some business group and caved in to political nepotism.

She said the channel should have received more than Bt45 million a year from content producers as channels such as 3, 5 and 7 pay much more. "I'm not surprised at Jakrapob, but the 2007 charter has failed to give confidence to government officials to act without fear of political interference. They still serve politicians," said Uajit.

Phachern Khamphoe, the PRD's acting director-general who was appointed by Jakrapob, denied having committed any wrongdoing.

"We couldn't waste time," he said of the decision to give approval to Digital Media Holding within one day. "We didn't favour anyone. We must act fast and I even think we were slow."

Phachern said he was willing to testify if called upon in order to prove his innocence. "I'm confident of our innocence and we have adhered to due process in a transparent manner."

The acting PRD chief said the Bt45 million to be received by NBT was considerable and one must not compare the ability to generate income of stations like Channel 3, which runs popular shows, to that of NBT.

Media expert Ubonrat suggested that bureaucrats involved in the allegation prove themselves with documents. "These officials must clear up the doubts."