Today around noon (Thai time) it will become clear whether the World Cup Football can be followed on television for free. The military authority has 'signalled' [a threat in disguise?] that the population should be given the opportunity to watch the games for free as part of its 'Returning Happiness to the People' policy.
Army-owned TV Channel 5 has offered to broadcast the games in high definition. It could transmit 38 matches and possibly the 42, which are now behind the decoder of RS Plc, which owns the broadcasting rights. The 22 remaining matches will be broadcast by free channels 7 and 8.
Television watchdog NBTC, which bit the dust in the Supreme Administrative Court yesterday, has offered to compensate RS for the company's losses if all matches are free to watch. At 12 o'clock this will take place between the NBTC and RS. The kick-off of the opening game will be given tonight at 3 am (Thai time).
RS wants to earn 650 million baht from advertising and sub-licensing. The NBTC will use a fund for the compensation offered, which contains 22 billion baht. The TV watchdog is demanding that RS provide details of the estimated loss, business plan, sub-licensing contracts, advertising and profits made on set-top box sales.
The NBTC had gone to the administrative court with the requirement that all matches be broadcast for free. She invoked the "must-have" rule. The judge did not agree with the NBTC, because RS acquired the broadcasting rights in 2005, while the 'must-have' rule only came into effect in December 2011. That rule, enshrined in the Broadcasting Act and Frequency Allocation Act, aims to protect the interests of the public.
(Source: bangkok mail, June 12, 2014)
The News from Thailand section appears a little later today, because the newspaper was not delivered to the editors and was only available later.
It is now known that our general has indeed saved football. Great for the Thai football fan but……………………..when I read this, two thoughts immediately popped into my head.
1) …………….. Bread and circuses. In any case, that idea from ancient Rome is still alive. And that was really not a fresh club.
2)……………… A court decision (22 live, the rest must/may be behind the decoder) goes into the trash bin/is overruled without a boo or a bah. I find the latter especially frightening because now it is a statement about football, but what will it be next time? Farangs out of the country?; Pay farangs extra? No Internet? As you can see, it is arranged in no time. Court ruling not "nice" oh well...just thrown in the trash. Yingluck had to resign based on a court ruling. Rightly or wrongly, I leave open the question, but the verdict was there so she had to go. At least that's how it should be... that's what I thought until recently, but no, not anymore in Thailand. Very dangerous... although it does provide clarity. You know exactly what to expect from these gentlemen.
And despite the Cheops message issued today by the World Bank on the future of the Thai economy, the money seems to be running out. Pay the farmers (which I think is very fair), subsidized petrol prices, new guarantees/subsidy for the farmers and now payment from the state treasury (Channel 5 is the army's TV station) for football......money would be enough you say. Apparently not possible. I think that in the longer term the consequences of this “Santa Claus” policy will be many times worse than Yingluck's “Sinterklaas” policy. Fortunately, I receive my money in Euro, but I have my heart set on Thailand in the long term.
@Heronimus59 Read my World Cup football: Junta tries to save free TV broadcasts. At 12 noon Thai time, the decision will be made whether all football matches will be broadcast for free. Your rendering of the court ruling is also incorrect. See also World Cup football: Junta tries to save free TV broadcasts.
Hoi
In many cases you are right but rather the army than the gang of T.
Guess how they got rich off the backs of the people.
Gr .John
Football fans don't worry. With this match-fixing, the result had been fixed for weeks. Increasing tension and thus optimizing relief and gratitude. Does the Imperator thumbs up or down? The people applaud, cheer and are entertained…
Anyone have an idea where to follow the NL matches? 5, 7, 8?
Breaking News All World Cup football matches can be watched for free on Thai television. RS Plc, which owns the broadcasting rights, today agreed to compensation paid by television watchdog NBTC for the lost revenue. RS asked for 766.515 million baht and will receive 427.015 million baht.
The matches will be broadcast on Army channels 5 (38 matches plus opening and closing ceremonies) and 7 (29 matches), and channel 8 (56 matches), owned by RS. Some matches can be seen on more than one channel.
The Foundation for Consumers has criticized the compensation offered. "The NBTC should not use public funds to compensate RS." That money should come from advertising revenue on channels 5 and 7. The foundation also believes that RS should refund the purchase price to people who have bought a decoder especially for the World Cup.