The current

"World Cup"

that will be held once every 4 years is a world-class event that football fans of all nations want to participate in.

and look forward

but for Thailand than

that Thai people will be able to watch the World Cup final

It doesn't seem easy.

and full of problems along the way

Until many more questions arise from purchasing the rights to live broadcast "

World Cup 2022"

 , although now the World Cup has almost reached the final curve.

But in our country, agencies involved in buying copyrights such as the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the Broadcasting Commission

television business

And the National Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) still goes around solving the problems that follow.

From purchasing the rights to broadcast live broadcasts of the World Cup every day

Find a host - make money, buy a license?

making Thai people excited until the last minute

Just a few weeks before the final

"World Cup 2022"

begins.

Immediately a big question arises?

When Thailand was still looking for a host to buy the rights to the 2022 World Cup, it was not yet the source that made

"SAT"

apply for funding from the Broadcasting Research and Development Fund.

Television and telecommunication business

for the public interest or PAT to pay royalties at first

Pifa charged up to 1,600 million baht.

This high number

raises questions

Because of the use of the money from the PAT to buy the rights to the World Cup

may not meet the objectives of the fund

But in the end, the NBTC approved

600 million baht

as the initial capital for purchasing the copyright.

But the next problem is?

Then SAT will get the rest of the money from to fill it up completely.

Therefore, it is the source of finding the private sector to participate in the contest and make money until the end, SAT was able to close the deal to buy the rights to broadcast the 2022 World Cup with 

"International Football Federation or FIFA"

 successfully worth 1,200 million baht ( excluding taxes and other expenses) Until finally, Thai people were able to watch all 64 shots broadcast via free TV, but!!

The problem is not over yet. 

Digital TV complains about unfair broadcasting rights

Before the live broadcast of "World Cup 2022" through the first free TV match

"Digital Television Association"

came out to express disagreement after SAT gave the copyright to True Corporation Public Company Limited solely.

As one of the co-sponsors of royalties in the amount of 300 million baht, True received the right to choose 32 live broadcasts out of 64 matches, both on digital TV and other channels.

The association therefore submitted a letter to the NBTC to investigate this matter. It was found that a certain amount of money came from the NAT, which was considered money from the state, and digital TV operators participated in the payment. money into this fund

Including other private parties who contributed funds to buy the copyright

The allocation of the live broadcast schedule should be thorough, equal and fair.

Petition the court to order IPTV with a black screen

Although Thai people are reassured that

will be able to watch important world-class live broadcasts

And will not be the case

"black screen"

as it used to happen with live broadcasts of Euro 2012 football at the audience through some set-top boxes.

can't watch

Because the NBTC's Must Carry announcement was issued in 2013 to require licensed television service providers from the NBTC to bring programs on free TV channels.

Go broadcast on all channels without 

"black screen"

But this problem still occurs.

In the live broadcast of

"World Cup 2022"

 when the True group

As the sole licensee of the World Cup from SAT in Thailand

filed a lawsuit against the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court

An Internet TV operator that operates via AIS PLAYBOX is prohibited from broadcasting live broadcasts of the 2022 World Cup via IPTV.

convey the signal 

As a result, the “black screen” TV event occurs.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siripan Noksuan Sawasdee, Lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science

Chulalongkorn University

Academics urge SAT to open World Cup licensing deal

SAT was further questioned by

"Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siripan Nok Suan Sawasdee", an academic from the Faculty of Political Science.

Chulalongkorn University

 who demanded that the SAT should come out to clarify and disclose the contract that made the licensing agreement to broadcast the 2022 World Cup with True Company, noting that the official Media Rights Licensees

It belongs to the Sports Authority of Thailand (or SAT-Sports Authority of Thailand), as shown in FIFA's Digital hub. The world has "all channels"

“The question is why the Sports Authority of Thailand transferred this license to True, who paid 300 million to decide.

The Sports Authority of Thailand should come out to clarify.

And reveal the contract / agreement made with True "600 million baht is the money of the country and the people.

When used, they should be disclosed and verifiable."

Consumer Council submits 5 demands to resolve World Cup copyright issues

Representatives

of the Council of Consumer Organizations

 agree that the public must be provided with access to the World Cup Final broadcast on free TV for equal and fair access.

without charge

And following the facts on the copyright issue of broadcasting the World Cup, it was found that

the International Football Federation (FIFA) only granted the World Cup rights in Thailand to the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), so SAT has the right to allocate. This live broadcast allows everyone to access all channels, but SAT instead gives the private sector the right to choose competitors, both in the number of pairs and in the number of more channels.

And it's also backed by product advertising costs.

In the past, the SAT has never officially announced that there is a licensing contract for broadcasting the World Cup between the SAT and the said operator.

and is the origin of the temporary protection order of the Intellectual Property Court

The next thing is that consumers are affected.

Because it is unable to watch free TV channels normally according to the rules of the NBTC, according to the Must Carry and Must Have rules, affecting the basic rights of consumers.

The Council of Consumer Organizations therefore submits a letter of recommendation as follows:

1. Disclose the details of the conditions and contracts that the NBTC made with the SAT from the budget support of 600 million baht from the NAT Fund, Sections 52 and 36 referring to the provision of persons with disabilities.

Underprivileged people have access to World Cup viewing

To see if the support of the BAT Fund is in accordance with the intent and is fair to consumers or not.

2. The NBTC should show its responsibility by issuing remedial measures for consumers who have always watched free-to-air television programs via the Internet (IPTV), but are currently unable to watch all channels as usual.

Specifically, the World Cup final broadcast content is defined in the Musthave Rules.

As a result, basic rights such as remedies, device support are affected.

Receiving digital TV signals to households in need by using the NAT Fund to support in principle.

3. Proactive complaints should be opened.

from the case of the black screen problem that occurred this time

To explore the impact and put in place remedial measures to allow Thai people access to 'Free TV' thoroughly and equally.

According to the principle of television that is a general service under the law of the NBTC.

4. The NBTC should listen to opinions on amendments.

Must Have Rules

and must carry, in the long term, to be more fair and practical.

by finding a balance between private competition and consumer protection

5. The NBTC should summarize the lessons learned from the incident in order to find a solution.

Remedies for current consumers and prevents future problems in the 2026 World Cup.

SAT requests NBTC to black screen C-Band after FIFA warns of signal leakage

due to being warned by Pifa as the true owner of the copyright

after detecting the smuggling of illegal live broadcast signals from neighboring countries of Thailand

Due to the original satellite encryption standard that Thailand uses, which is in the BISSKY system, FIFA has sent warnings 6 times and if Thailand does not fix it

will be suspended.

Do not broadcast live matches.

Even though the royalties have already been paid.

The NBTC therefore resolved to require advanced encryption (CAS) from network service providers.

And refrain from transmitting images in the C-Band satellite system or black dish during the competition.

Causing viewers in C-Band satellite systems to not be able to watch live broadcasts of the 2022 World Cup.

NBTC threatens to recall 600 million

from many problems that arise

After purchasing the rights to broadcast live

"World Cup 2022"

, the NBTC sent a letter to the SAT to comply with the memorandum of cooperation on sponsoring the cost of purchasing the rights to broadcast live World Cup matches. 2022 final 

After SAT has not corrected and acted correctly, it therefore requests SAT to correct and act in accordance with the conditions and objectives of the memorandum that requires SAT to manage the rights for the licensee. To operate a broadcasting business or television business under the supervision of the NBTC and the Office of the NBTC can broadcast live broadcasts of the 2022 World Cup finals according to the NBTC announcement on business dissemination criteria. Television for general use (Must Carry)

as well as to ensure that all television network operators who provide pay television services

Conducting live broadcasts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup (Final), allowing members to receive uninterrupted, direct access to general television services.

And there is no change, reproduction, modification, program schedule or program content.

If SAT does not take corrective action

or unable to perform correctly as specified

The SAT is obligated to return all received support to the Office of the NBTC within 15 days from the date of receiving written notification.

with default interest at the rate of 5% per year

The copyright problem of the World Cup in Thailand is likely to repeat in the next 4 years.

"Dr. Salilthorn Thongmensuk"

, an academic from the Thailand Development Research Institute or TDRI

, gave an interesting perspective on the World Cup copyright problem.

The cause of the dissemination of the World Cup in Thailand was chaotic, caused by 3 factors.

1) The Must Have and Must Carry announcements delayed the purchase of licenses.

Because the private sector lacks the incentive to pay royalties.

It also makes copyrights more expensive.


According to the announcement of the NBTC, pay TV lacks an incentive to buy copyrights because the cost of copyrights will increase.

Because it's not just about allowing a particular group of users to be able to continue watching through any one channel.

but forced to watch all channels across the country

As a result, the rights owner has to charge additional royalties.

Royalties for major sporting events are expensive.

But when purchased, it must be allowed for free TV to be distributed free of charge.

The problem that arises is that the number of pay TV viewers

not as much as it should be

Because you can already watch football through free TV

And will result in the private sector not being able to generate income from subscription fees from football fans who watch the match.

Free TV, on the other hand, has no incentive to go and buy the rights.

Because it must allow other pay TV to broadcast for free as well

as well as causing the sale of advertisements not worth the royalties

Therefore, it may be an investment that is not worth it.

Announcements issued with the intention of allowing Thai people to watch the sports festival thoroughly and equally.

Therefore, it becomes an obstacle that almost causes Thai people to not watch the World Cup in time.

Dr. Salilthorn Thongmeensook, academician at Thailand Development Research Institute or TDRI

2) The value of benefits received by True

not proportional to the amount True paid

which arises from the state itself that has no criteria for the allocation of rights


Helping the state to pay royalties in the proportion of only about 21.4 percent resulted in True receiving the privilege of broadcasting 32 out of 64 exclusive live broadcasts on all channels, which True was entitled to at a cheap price. compared to what

Although True later agreed to share the live broadcast of the 2022 World Cup with digital TV for 16 games parallel. 

Looking superficially from the proportion of people who have contributed to the World Cup royalties.

The other private parties involved in helping to pay for the 2022 FIFA World Cup royalties will not be the media operators, but primarily operators other than True itself.

Although not directly involved in the competition

Because the money for the contest comes from the NAT Fund, which part of the fund comes from the revenue of the licensee under the law on broadcasting and television business.

and according to the law on telecommunication business 

3) True privileges

There are no auctions or open competitions. 


In the FIFA document, it is clearly stated that the organization that has the right to publish images of the 2022 World Cup in Thailand is SAT, but makes many parties suspicious as to why SAT

Therefore allowing entrepreneurs who contributed 21.4 percent to get exclusive rights 

SAT should disclose from the beginning that

If you want to ask for the right to live broadcast

how much to pay

Or is there a criterion for sharing rights, for example, by the number of matches?

or through published channels

rather than asking

raise funds from the private sector

In a charitable manner and let the private person choose what to take, like Cherry picking and of course, what the private person chooses

In addition, the allocation criteria were never disclosed and there was no bidding or open competition.

But it's just a negotiation.

without revealing the contract between SAT and True to the public

"Dr. Salilthorn"

stated at the end that

Before these problems return in the next 4 years, the NBTC will need to review the need for the persistence of the must have and must carry announcements for the World Cup broadcast.

Is there any necessity?

and must seriously consider the rules of competition between private sectors in order to obtain the right to do so thoroughly and openly

For the people and consumers to get the most benefit or there may be other methods that are better to achieve the objectives of consumer protection, such as controlling and supervising contracts.

or prohibiting the exclusion of other service providers

If there is no amendment, Thai people will have to hope again in the next 4 years whether Thailand will get the rights to the World Cup or not.

Who will bear the cost of royalties?

and what to do

To negotiate with operators who will broadcast the World Cup under reasonable and fair conditions.

And finally, if the must have and must carry declarations are not repealed, the declaration will continue to be challenged again and again, regardless of whether it is constitutional.

violation of copyright law

as well as in the dimension of market mechanism intervention

Until unable to work as usual until the private sector lacks business incentives

And causing the state to invest in buying copyrights themselves without getting anything.

Thai Rath online news team reported

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