Spring News, a Thai television news outlet, insisted yesterday it was negotiating with MCOT Plc after the broadcaster pledged to terminate its broadcasting network on June 16 due to the channel's failure to repay more than 104 million baht in debts to the agency over the past two years.
Chatchai Tawantharong, chief operating officer of Spring News, said the channel was negotiating with MCOT to settle the debts, adding it would repay them all in compliance with a contract with the MCOT.
He said the MCOT had a specific timeframe for the debt payment as the agency was a state enterprise.
There may have been some misunderstanding between Spring News and the broadcaster on the deadline for settlement, he added.
Mr Chatchai, however, admitted the agency was affected by the issue as it needed to rejig its debt-management plan, which could also result in seeking a new broadcaster.
"We have always been willing to stay with MCOT. It would be great if the negotiations produce a substantial result," Mr Chatchai added.
He said if the talks are successful it would be a win-win situation as the MCOT now rents broadcasting networks to three digital TV operators: Spring News, Thai Rath TV and Voice TV.
Without Spring News the MCOT would lose revenue and have to devise a complicated plan for finding a client.
Mr Chatchai's comments came after the MCOT sought approval from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to terminate broadcasts for Spring News TV.
This came after the channel failed to pay the rental fee for a broadcasting network -- more than 104 million baht plus interest -- to the MCOT since 2016.
The size of the debt was updated by the MCOT on May 31.
According to its president, Khemmathat Pholladet, the MCOT demanded payment but Spring News claimed it would roll out a scheme to increase profit and them pay off the rental fee in instalments.
The NBTC later decided to terminate a broadcasting contract between Spring News and the MCOT on April 11, with the last signal due to be broadcast on June 16.
Mr Khemmathat said the MCOT decided to seek approval from the NBTC as the issue could cause damage to the state, with the agency accused of dereliction of duty.
Mr Chatchai said he was certain the NBTC would not allow Spring News' broadcasts to be terminated as the commission made an earlier promise to this effect in the event of disputes between broadcasters and digital TV operators.
"If the negotiations fail, I will consider a new broadcaster. However, we have to think about who will suit Spring News the best," he said.
Sombat Leelapata, director of the NBTC's legal office, said Spring News asked the commission to help it find a new broadcaster if the talks break down.
