World Cup football fans on internet protocol TV (IPTV) platforms can watch the last two matches of the tournament this weekend, with True Corporation allowing all IPTV operators to relay live the third-place and World Cup final matches.
Teeradet Dumrongbhalasitr, co-president of True Corporation, yesterday said True would not charge IPTV operators that want to broadcast tonight's match for third place at the 2022 World Cup between Croatia and Morocco or the final between Argentina and France tomorrow. Both games are scheduled for a 10pm kickoff (Thai time).
He said only True Corp has the rights to live World Cup broadcasting via IPTV but it made the decision for the benefit of the Thai public.
"IPTV service providers can write their request to the True Group, and the permitted broadcast will include measures to prevent copyright violations," Mr Teeradet said.
True's decision comes as the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is demanding the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) return 600 million baht it granted the SAT for the World Cup 2022 broadcasting rights.
As per the grant, the NBTC required the SAT to guarantee the event be broadcast on any platform. The SAT disagreed with the demand to return the 600 million baht.
It reportedly had earlier granted exclusive rights to tournament broadcasts, including on IPTV and over-the-air platforms, to True Corp.