BANGKOK: Thailand's leading pay-TV operator United Broadcasting
Corp (UBC) is stepping up pressure on the Government to allow it to run
commercials, claiming it is in dire financial straits because of the
depreciating baht and eight years of losses.
It recently requested permission to run "pass-thru" advertising, ads
that are pre-packed with foreign programmes. Thai regulations prevent
pay-TV channels from running ads, as does UBC's contract with its
concession owner, the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand
(MCOT). After a round of talks, MCOT agreed to allow UBC to raise
monthly fees by about 17 per cent, but declined to make a decision on
the advertising issue.
