By Mark Baber
June 11 – Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court, this morning, ruled in favour of RS Plc, a pay tv broadcast rights holder for the tournament, in a legal dispute with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
RS Plc had threatened to air a black screen instead of the World Cup matches if it lost the case, in which the NBTC was trying get a Court injunction for all 64 World Cup matches to be shown on free-to-air TV.
The court’s decision means 22 matches, including Thursday’s opener and the final will be free-to-air on public broadcaster NBTC. RS Plc has the right to choose a further 20 games which will be free to air as agreed with FIFA.
As things stand, the remaining games will require a pay-TV subscription, either through RS or one of its partners, including Truevision.
Following the Court ruling, NBTC told the Bangkok Post they may use money from their reserve fund to subsidise the broadcasts, with an announcement expected later. Yesterday, RS claimed broadcasting all 64 games free would violate the terms of their contract with FIFA and a new broadcast plan would have to be submitted to FIFA for approval.
RS purchased the broadcast rights in 2005, but a law was passed in 2012 which included the World Cup among sports events which were mandated to be free-to-air.
RS won the court case in the first instance at the Administrative Court and today’s ruling, which followed an appeal by NBTC, confirms that the 2012 law does not have retrospective effect.
Unless NBTC can come to an arrangement with RS Plc which is quickly approved by FIFA then it appears this year’s tournament may be the first which is not available free-to-air in Thailand, although the application of the new law means it is also likely to be the last.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734910503labto1734910503ofdlr1734910503owedi1734910503sni@r1734910503ebab.1734910503kram1734910503
