B427m Cup splurge 'inappropriate'

B427m Cup splurge 'inappropriate'

Money would be better spent on libraries, says academic

Senior mass communication academic Somkiat Onwimon has condemned as inappropriate the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's (NBTC) decision to pay 427 million baht to ensure free TV broadcasts of all World Cup 2014 soccer matches.

The NBTC decided to use money from the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for the Public Interest (BTFP) to pay RS Plc, the rights holder for the television screening of the tournament matches in Thailand, to allow all 64 matches on to be shown free TV.

In his Facebook page, Mr Somkiat said it was an in appropriate use of the fund and deserved condemnation.

He such entertainment-oriented spending was a waste, would facilitate improper activities and would not benefit the national economy. Besides, he said, no football fans had demanded the money be spent.

The 427 million baht could have been better used to build public libraries in all provinces, he concluded.


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