ITV News

Well 9.30 this morning is judgement time for ITV. A high court judge will decide whether a government order to close them for unpaid taxes is enforcable or not. They are the most popular news channel by far, with reporters that are not afraid to say as they see it. They have a special 'Hot News' spot at 9.00pm every night which has become compulsive viewing for me and my wife. Needless to say , it is at times critical of people and events occurring on the day all over Thailand. A populace policy that is not always acceptable to some.If the closure goes ahead it is estimated over 10,000 people will lose their jobs.

Thailand TV station taken over

The station was once owned by Thaksin Shinawatra
The Thai government has announced that it will take over the country's only main independent TV station, iTV, after it failed to pay unpaid fees.
The station was once owned by ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who sold it to Singapore-based firm Temasek in 2006.

The broadcaster had until Tuesday to pay nearly 100bn baht ($2.9bn) in fines and unpaid fees, after losing a legal battle.

But iTV had already admitted it had no hope of finding the money required.

The station - which has no links with the British broadcasting network of the same name - will be shut down temporarily from Wednesday.

The takeover was widely expected after the government announced last week that it would terminate iTV's licence if it failed to meet Tuesday's payment deadline.

"The iTV station will be shut down from 7 March until there is clarity on legal issues," said Dhipawadee Meksawan, a minister at the prime minister's office.

Shin Corp, which was founded by Mr Thaksin and held a 53% stake in iTV, was bought last year by the Singapore-based firm Temasek.

From the BBC.

[b]BUT LATER IN THE DAY....

According to the Bangkok Post - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Wednesday reversed his government's order, and told joyous iTV workers to stay on the job and keep the station on the air.

Gen Surayud gave the order after the Council of State ruled that the government takeover of iTV was legal, and ordered the transfer of its assets to the Public Relations Department.

The Central Administrative Court, meanwhile, was working on a decision after iTV staff asked it to reverse the government order to take iTV off the air on Tuesday at midnight.

Staff defied the regime and kept the station on the air.

There were scenes of joy among iTV staff and a large crowd that gathered on Wednesday to support the station and its staff.

The order by Gen Surayud was a major setback to his PM's Office Minister Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan, who had surprised everyone with the order to close the station last weekend. She said it would have to stop broadcasting for a short time to srutinise and legalise paperwork and station contracts.

The government then ordered iTV staff to end broadcasting last night at midnight. At least one newspaper and some foreign news agencies even reported prominently that it had already closed.

But the station never stopped broadcasting.

Staff defied the government order and kept it on the air overnight and through the day, although with crossed fingers as they awaited the court verdict. They thought they had only an outside chance of winning, and in fact were ready to close the station this evening if the court ordered.

The Council of State also ruled the name of the station should be changed to TITV, for "Thai iTV".

Gen Surayud as late as Tuesday said that the 1,010 staff would be given a three-month severance payment, although many expect to be rehired and to stay on at the station when the government takes over.


THERE YOU HAVE ONE BIG TITv

It's on at the moment - don't understand what they're saying though.