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Thailand: Telco watchdog moves to end media monopolies

By  |  July 29, 2014

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is moving to end media monopolies through new rules governing mergers and acquisitions in the broadcasting industry, say reports.

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    To curb anticompetitive practices, reports say the NBTC is looking to bar cross-ownership, which the watchdog says can create a monopoly in the industry and harm media freedom. “This draft regulation is aimed at preventing M&As in the same categories of media business, which might lead to a media cross-ownership and monopoly, NBTC broadcasting committee chairman Col Natee Sukonrat said.

    According to reports, the new merger rules will affect takeovers and share-swap deals, as well as bar mergers among companies with mutual interests.

    The draft regulations will face a hearing next month, reports say.

    Full content: Bangkok Post

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