The Football Association of Thailand has terminated its broadcast contract with Zense Entertainment, FAT president Somyot Poompunmuang said yesterday.
Somyot told a press conference that the firm failed to secure a bank guarantee as stated in the contract which was signed last year.
Zense failed to hand the FAT a bank guarantee by Jan 31 this year under the contract and the organisation extended the deadline to June 1 which it also missed, according to Somyot.
"As the company failed to act according to the contract, we have to find a new partner," he said.
The eight-year contract worth 12 billion baht, which was to begin this year, would cover all matches of the Thai men's and women's football and futsal teams, three domestic leagues, FA Cup and League Cup, among other events.
Somyot said the FAT will now find TV stations to show live matches. "We will still show live all Thai League 1 matches, although some may not be on free TV," he said.
Citing J-League as an example, Somyot said matches may be shown via smart phone or online.
Meanwhile, Zense said it still honours the contract.
In a statement, the company said the FAT and Thai League Co held talks with it in April to make some changes to the contract.
The company claimed both parties agreed that certain details in the deal should be amended during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zense said it was still waiting for written confirmation of the changes from the FAT so the firm could not hand the organisation a bank guarantee.
"We have invested a lot and have prepared all aspects of the broadcast," it said.
"We hope we are treated according to the contract. We are ready to find a way out for all parties for the benefit of Thai football," the statement said.