One reporter at Government House who covered the decision on the fate of the station was unable to continue a report on the closure and abruptly burst into tears.

ITV employees will receive compensation of between 3-10 months, however their future from now on is still unclear.  

A stage was set up in front of iTV's headquarters for the "Ruam Mue Ruam Jai" programme to broadcast live pictures of the despondent atmosphere there, as well as iTV's provincial centres in four regions.

"Tomorrow, iTV will be empty. Why don't they let us run it, until the Council of State tells us to stop?" programme host Pramarn Lueng-wattanavanich said from the stage.

"Instead of solving problems, the government is creating more problems for innocent people," said Wanchai Sonsiri, another host.

iTV fans gathered at the head office and provincial news centres to provide moral support and bid farewell to the station. Some came with flowers, others just tears.

Polkij Ruengjaras, deputy chief of the iTV staff union, said all 1,070 staff of iTV would carry out their normal duties although the station is unable to broadcast. A Bt800,000 fund would be used to cover expenses.

"We will use personal cameras and vehicles if we are not allowed to use iTV equipment," he said.

Tuangporn Assawavilai, a staff representative, said while employees may be upset, they would not surrender to their fate.

At iTV's news centre in Khon Kaen in the Northeast, 24 employees were tearful after the government decided to pull the station off the air for a month.

Correspondent Narong Wongputh, 29, said he had not been prepared for the decision because the prime minister had promised that iTV staff would not be affected.

"It's shocking. We have no plan B," he said. However, he hoped to return to work for the station if it opened again.

Permanent staff would receive compensation of between 3-10 months' salary, but Narong, who is a stringer, received no compensation.

Newscaster Piyachat Karunanond, 29, who has worked at iTV for seven years, said she felt disappointed. But she felt proud because many social problems were exposed by the station during its 10 years of broadcasting.

Sumana Jaewcharoenwong, who reported on social and education issues at the station for 10 years, said she was shocked at the order for iTV to temporarily stop broadcasting.

"I am just back from making a scoop on young rape victims - a real social problem - only to find my job is gone."

Kannikar Nak-ung, a stringer at iTV's northern news centre, said 30 staff members of the centre now have been left with uncertain future and have no idea what to do next. 

Meanwhile, iTV reporters

last night gave interviews  on the "Tonight with Saisawan" programme on the station's final night, airing their feelings about the government's decision to stop iTV broadcasts.

Reporter Tapanee Iedsrichai who covered the decision at Government House said everyone in her team was shocked. She was unable to hold back her tears, but said the show must go on. She couldn't keep her voice from quivering while reporting the news.

"At the time I had to continue doing my duty to report the facts behind the decision to pull iTV off air," she said.

Tapanee said she would be even sadder if she found out that the station was blacked out for political reasons.