Gen Surasak Karnjanarat, the newly appointed board chairman of MCOT Plc, the SET-listed operator of Channel 9, has outlined his policy of reviving the state-owned broadcaster, with top priority being appointing a new chief executive as it faces fierce competition from digital TV.
"MCOT urgently needs a new chief executive who has expertise in broadcasting and can stand up to political intervention," he said.
A recruitment committee is scheduled to start next week, with a chief executive expected to take the helm next month.
MCOT needs a major overhaul, particularly with content and transparency of operations. Channel 9's ratings have been declining, reflecting low-quality content.
Gen Surasak said the board wanted MCOT to grow fruitfully.
The station had its golden period under the leadership of Mingkwan Saengsuwan and Somchai Sunthornwat, he said.
MCOT is a state enterprise infamous for corruption, as seen by the delay of its digital TV network expansion, which will soon affect the country's digitalisation, Gen Surasak said.
He said to counter this tradition, the MCOT board had agreed to give full power to an internal audit committee.
Each procurement must comply with the government's e-auction requirements in order to prevent corruption.
Moreover, the new board chairman plans to solve internal conflicts between board members and the management team that have been festering for 10 years, hurting competitiveness while other TV businesses improved their operations.
"We intend to make MCOT a transparent model for state enterprises," he said.
Gen Surasak has been a director of civil affairs for the Royal Thai Army, which works closely with the broadcasting industry.
Bualuang Securities reported the TV ratings and audience share of Channel 9 would keep dropping in the second half of this year, while its revenue and net profit were expected to record declines in the first half due to the political conflicts and economic downturn.
MCOT shares closed on the SET last Friday at 25.50 baht, up 25 satang, in trade worth 7.81 million baht.