The government yesterday set up a new board of directors chaired by PM's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan to operate iTV after its concession officially ends next Tuesday.

The nine-member panel comprises deputy chairman Chulayuth Hiranyawasit, who is also permanent secretary of the PM's Office; and unnamed representatives from four relevant government agencies: the Council of State, the Budget Bureau, the Finance Ministry and a legal adviser to the PM's Office.

Those named are Kampree Kaewcharoen, a former deputy attorney-general; Dr Jeera Hongladaromp, an academic lecturer and mass-media expert; and Chitnarong Kunakrisadathikarn, deputy director of MCOT.

Reacting to earlier reports the government might operate iTV after taking over from the current management, former senator Jon Ungpakorn was critical, saying the practice may lead to state interference in public media by future governments.

He suggested a new ad-hoc board be constituted, comprising only media professionals and academics from the mass media. He also called for holding a public hearing to determine the most suitable policy on the future of iTV and its structure.

Jon said the Constitution Drafting Assembly should conduct a study on the permanent management of iTV and that it should be a public organisation subsidised mainly by the government and partly funded with revenues from commercials.

Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa earlier warned the government against operating iTV on its own, saying it would bog down the government while also exposing it to heavy criticism from both the public and supporters of iTV.

"iTV should not be state-run, as the state already has direct control over Channels 9 and 11, plus Channels 3 and 7 operating under state concession," he said. "Government control over iTV will face opposition from iTV staff, and if the government could not fully run it, why would it want to bail out the station?"

Banharn referred to the initial united resistance by MCOT staff against a move to appoint acting director Pongsak Payakvichien, a government-allied journalist, to manage state-run MCOT after former director Mingkwan Sangsuwan resigned not long after the September 19 coup last year.

Pongsak said it was rational for the government to assign MCOT to operate iTV. "We're playing two roles: one as a listed company and the other as a state enterprise under the PM's Office. We're obliged to act as ordered. With more than 50 years of experience, we're capable of taking on this job, and iTV is also an efficient station. However, I haven't yet received the details about this order."

An industry source close to MCOT said the agency could be responsible for air-time management, programme production and general business administration.

"While all revenues from iTV will go to the PM's Office, MCOT will receive the management fee. In whatever way, iTV is a profit-making business with annual expenses of Bt1.2 billion against Bt2 billion in revenues. It is ranked third in terms of TV ratings, behind Channels 3 and 7," said the source.

iTV could be renamed Thai Independent Television. In the transition, iTV employees will become MCOT employees and enjoy their current pays and benefits.

"There's no reason to lay them off, given their work efficiency," the source said.

The source added that MCOT shareholders should not complain about the new role, given that it was said in the listing prospectus that MCOT, 75-per-cent owned by the Finance Ministry, is liable to follow any orders from the state.

National Legislative Assembly member Kamnoon Sithisamarn said the government was wrong in jumping to rescue iTV by guaranteeing its staff would receive the same remuneration package and that their employment contracts would not be changed.

Since iTV is a public firm listed in the stock market, Kamnoon believes the government will find it hard to justify why it considers iTV a special case while not helping other public firms whose operations are also facing difficulties.