Miss Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office, in her capacity overseeing MCOT Public Company Limited, or MCOT, denied rumors of a merger between MCOT and the Thailand Public Broadcasting Service, or Thai PBS, stating that she was not aware of any details and that MCOT executives had not been notified of any merger. She also confirmed that MCOT is currently working with the State Enterprise Policy Office, or SEPO, to find ways to revive the organization and prevent losses, a process that has been ongoing, and stressed that MCOT personnel should not panic, as the rumors are merely information citing sources from the Ministry of Finance, with no official conclusion or plan yet. Meanwhile, Mr. Thibordee Wattanakul, Director of the State Enterprise Policy Office, denied rumors that the Ministry of Finance was preparing to reduce its shareholding in MCOT and that this could lead to a merger with Thai PBS if no new private partner could be found within six months, confirming that he had never given an interview or held any idea about such a merger. Previously, SEPO had planned to propose that the State Enterprise Policy Committee, or SEPC, review the roles of eight state enterprises to find ways to improve operational efficiency, reduce redundancy, and manage public resources appropriately, with options ranging from restructuring and mergers to reducing the government's shareholding below 50 percent. MCOT is one of the state enterprises under consideration for restructuring after facing intense competition in the media and digital television industry, with preliminary approaches focusing on reforming its management through a new board, as well as bringing in business partners with expertise to support it, in order to enhance competitiveness and revive long-term performance.
MCOT Public Company LimitedMCOT is the subject of state-enterprise restructuring review by SEPO/SEPC, with merger rumors denied and no official plan concluded.