Reporters reported In case the Sports Authority of Thailand or SAT sent a letter asking the Broadcasting Committee. And the National Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) considers supporting the 2022 World Cup broadcasting rights with a total purchase of up to 42 million baht including taxes, or about 1,600 million baht. A meeting will be held to review this agenda. On November 9, 65, lecturers from the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University as well as academic media according to the list We oppose the approval of said money for the following reasons:
If the NBTC plans to approve funding for the live broadcast of the 2022 World Cup, it means withdrawing money from the Fund for Research and Development of Broadcasting Activities. and telecommunications for the public utility, the Fund for Research and Development of Broadcasting Enterprises. television and telecommunications affairs of public utility or (NTC), which has been established for the public to receive broadcasting services and telecommunications activities in depth Promote and support the development of communications resources for research and development in the radio and television sector. television affairs Telecommunications for the benefit of the public, access to broadcasting services television service Telecommunications services for the disabled, elderly, disadvantaged and people with different needs in society personnel development and professional organizations, as well as supporting the development of secure media funds and creative
the source of the money The NBTC will use it in this case. Money from accounts with objectives linked to broadcasting and television activities, i.e. account 1 and account 2 of the NBTC Fund.
While the 1st account of the POT Fund is the main account of the fund which must meet all the objectives of the fund, while the 2nd account is the money for the USO (Universal Service Obligation) plan. Especially the disabled, the less privileged and people with different needs in society receive comprehensive broadcast and television services.
In the past, the NBTC has supported 240 million baht from the NBTC Fund to support the sports authority of Thailand to purchase the rights to broadcast live broadcasts of 5 Olympic Games, including the Summer Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, Swiss Confederation, Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, China, Dakar 2022 Summer Youth Olympics, Republic of Senegal and the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China by supporting and upholding the principles that It is a program that has a variety of sports and many types of sports in which Thais compete can fall under the objectives of the POT Fund, accounts 1 and 2.
As for the case of the live broadcast of the World Cup final, although it is related to the television and television industry which aims for Thais to watch football sports, it is a niche sport that Thais provide a range of interests. And the Thais do not participate in this final World Cup tournament, so they do not have the characteristics that fall within the objectives of the POT Fund, Accounts 1 and 2, to create and develop communication resources for public benefit. Creating opportunities to access Thai broadcasting services and TV affairs across all groups is a huge waste of money that should be used for public benefit for live broadcast only for the 2022 World Cup in a period of only 1 month. .
On the EXAT Fund website it has published the resolution of the Board of Directors of the EXAT Fund. 4/65 of 28 April 20 (This was the first meeting after the appointment of the new NBTC committee and subsequently the minutes of the meeting were not published on the website. At the same time, the remaining balance of the EXAT Fund, Account 1 (including the auction of digital TV and general money) is 3,435.07 million baht, while the second account is 804.27 million baht.
Referring to the news of the Issara news agency of November 3 65, stating information from news sources in the NBTC that at present, the remaining balance of the NBTC fund that can be used In this case, there are only about 2,000 million baht left. . It can be seen that the remaining budget of the POT Fund in relation to broadcasting and television activity is not a large budget. Currently, there are still many people in society, especially children, the disabled, the elderly, the disadvantaged and people with different needs, who do not have access to broadcasting and television services. as well as the scarcity of quantity and quality of the media and television for children, which is a real need for investment in the construction of social security.
However, considering taking money from the fund The NBTC, which is common money for the public good, will be used to support the live broadcast of the World Cup final. Therefore, it is contrary to the objectives of the NBTC Fund and has a great possibility of affecting the liquidity of the funds, significantly affecting the opportunity to access the services of the television broadcasting business. and telecommunications of Thais in a large area There has been a disruption in the research and development of the country’s communications resources. and will continue to affect the Thai people’s lack of economic and social development opportunities across the country as a whole
In this regard, faculty from the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University and academics in the media as listed below, therefore oppose the use of NBTC Fund funds to support the live broadcast of the 2022 World Cup and propose to the Sports Authority of Thailand to consider other modalities of cooperation that do not prejudice the public interest, and called on NBTC and NBTC to clarify the latest financial status of the NBTC Fund. as well as consider this agenda in a transparent and equitable manner, taking into account the protection of the public interest to find a solution to this problem without affecting the public and representing the protection of the rights and freedom of access to public sector broadcasting and television services in general
