Seven companies have committed to jointly bid on the broadcast rights for the 2018 World Cup tournament.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), informed Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan that the seven committed to a joint bid for the rights, with each company to spend 200 million baht.
The seven companies are Charoen Pokphand Group, PTT, Thai Beverage Plc, BTS, Bangchak Corporation Pcl, Gulf Energy Development Plc and King Power Group.
They are scheduled to sign an agreement by Feb 10 to seal the collaboration.
"Deputy Prime Minister Prawit previously urged the NBTC to take care of the issue because the government doesn't want to have any impact on Thai audiences," Mr Takorn said.
Gen Prawit helped bring the companies together to form the collaboration, he said.
"If private companies invest for the rights bidding, the broadcasting platforms are depending on them, for sure, so that Thais will be able to view the World Cup football matches via terrestrial digital TV platforms," Mr Takorn said.
The World Cup football tournament will be hosted by Russia in June and July.
