MVTV, Thai TV sign deal Satellite TV channel operator MV Television Co (MVTV) has entered into a partnership with Thai TV Co, which operates two digital channels, renting 40% of airtime of the latter's Loca Channel. The move will help to ease liquidity problems for Thai TV, which owns two digital channels — the Loca children's channel and Channel 17 news channel. Thai TV will have to pay 20 million baht a year to acquire content rights for the Loca Channel. A TV industry source said renting 40% airtime was a way to avoid violating the broadcasting regulator's rule, which stipulates the digital TV auction winner cannot transfer the licence. Thai TV, led by president Pantipa Sakulchai, won bids for two digital channels for a combined cost of 2 billion baht. However, staff at the Loca Channel have already been transferred to work at MVTV. The source said Loca was the first digital channel to seek a partner, as the channel operator faced financial problems. Thai TV recently asked the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Committee (NBTC) to change the name of the Loca Channel to the MVTV Channel. The renaming reflects its reliance on MVTV's marketing activities. MVTV will solely manage 40% of airtime, which will feature series, movies and Chinese cartoons. It is owned by satellite TV veteran Chaiyuth Thaweepworadet, who has been in the industry for more than 40 years. His company currently has five channels — Five TV, Major Channel Mix, Major Channel Asian, M Modern Indian TV and Dragon TV. In a related development, the Finance Ministry has pointed out the NBTC was empowered to make the one-year postponement of digital TV licence fees. NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said the agency's board would consider the issue at tomorrow's meeting. If it approves the delay, the NBTC will draft a new regulation to prolong the licence fee payment. The second payment of digital TV licence fees is worth 8.7 billion baht and due on May 24. Many digital TV operators requested the NBTC delay the licence fee payment for another 12 months in a bid to help reduce their hefty financial burden.