Thailand: Telco watchdog moves to end media monopolies

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.

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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