Media faces 'blackhole'

Activist Phairoj Pholphet said this could "worsen" the media situation.

 "Without active function of the subcommittee, violent and improper scenes are shown on television programmes, both on free TV and cable TV. Meanwhile community radio is used to serve political and business quarters by the Department of Public Relations (DPR)," Phairoj said.

"Currently, there  is a lack of authorities overseeing television affairs as both DPR and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) are not sure who should be involved under the new law," he said.

"DPR said it was in charge of TV affairs and community radio management. It ordered the closure of many community radio stations suspected of being related to political and business parties amid today's heated political battle," he said.

"All could be solved by making the subcommittee work as it was designed by the 2008 Broadcasting Act," said Pairoj, who is also a representative of an NGO network on the broadcasting subcommittee.

The subcommittee was established to oversee all broadcasting affairs. Since an enforcement of the new broadcasting rule on March 5, there has not been any subcommittee meeting, he said.

The longer "this blackhole period" continues, abuses would grow, he warned.