Thailand’s NBTC to decide on FIFA World Cup broadcast rights purchase
The telecom watchdog will decide next Wednesday whether to fund the purchase of broadcasting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on November 20.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC)’s executive board will meet on November 9 to decide its response to Thursday’s written request for funding from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), acting secretary-general Trairat Wiriyasirikul said on Friday.
He declined to give further details on the SAT’s request or the amount of money requested.
The rights to broadcast the four-yearly football extravaganza will cost 1.6 billion baht, according to media reports.
This year’s tournament is being hosted by Qatar between November 20 and December 18. Thirty-two national teams will play 64 matches in pursuit of the sport's most prestigious trophy.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has assured football fans in Thailand that they will be able to watch all World Cup matches live and for free, as the government will buy the broadcasting rights.
The SAT has been tasked with securing money for the rights from the NBTC’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for Public Interests. The fund currently totals just over 2 billion baht.
