THE NATIONAL Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission yesterday backtracked from compensating RS for free broadcasts of all World Cup matches, saying it will subsidise only Channels 5.
Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, yesterday told a seminar on media freedom and responsibilitythat payments will not exceed Bt427 million.
On June 12, the day the World Cup kicked off, the NBTC decided to pay RS, the local rights holder, Bt427 million for opportunity losses in allowing all free-to-air, cable and satellite TV operators to telecast all 64 matches nationwide.
The money would come from the Research and Development Fund for Broadcasting and Telecommun-ications Services, it said. The NBTC was criticised for abusing the public service fund to subsidise a company so all Thais could see the event.