The Sports Committee urged the government to negotiate a reduction in World Cup broadcasting rights fees and plans to invite the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Public Relations Department for an explanation next week. They expressed support for the government and understanding if live broadcasts cannot be aired amid Thailand's economic crisis due to budget constraints.
On 21 May 2026 at the press conference room on the 1st floor of the Parliament Building, Mr. Watcharapol Tomornsak, the third Deputy Chairman of the Sports Committee of the House of Representatives, along with the committee, jointly expressed concerns about the issues surrounding the live broadcast of the 2026 World Cup.
Mr. Watcharapol said that following the meeting on 20 May, the Sports Committee showed strong interest in the live broadcast of the World Cup, which is a significant event drawing attention from the Cabinet and the Prime Minister, who want the public to follow the matches. However, due to various problems as widely known, and public inquiries about whether the World Cup will be broadcast in Thailand or if there will be issues similar to the 2022 blackout and government fund usage, the committee is urging the government to reconsider these issues before the tournament starts on 11 June through 19 July, as there remain many questions.
1. The match times or time zones for live broadcasts available to Thai viewers, since the games take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, which are several hours behind Thailand. Broadcasts are scheduled from 3:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., making it difficult to find sponsors for the broadcasting rights fees.
2. The broadcasting rights fees, which news reports mention as 1.3 billion baht, but the actual amount is 1.3 billion baht for rights, plus 300 million baht tax, and an additional 100 million baht technical fee, totaling 1.7 billion baht. Meanwhile, the NBTC has removed the Must Carry rule for the 2024 World Cup broadcasts, meaning it no longer needs to use the broadcast support fund for maximum public benefit. There are still questions about the rights fees, prompting the committee to call on the government to review the fees. They cited China’s 20% fee reduction to 2 billion baht, suggesting that if Thailand negotiated similarly, fees could be reduced to 300 million baht.
"Our committee would like relevant agencies, including the NBTC and the Public Relations Department, to update on the budget progress regarding the 1.7 billion baht expense. We want to encourage the government, and importantly, given current budget issues, urge the government to review and find the best approach for live broadcasts, including negotiating to reduce the rights fees as much as possible," he said.
Mr. Watcharapol added that he hopes the funding will come from the private sector, minimizing government spending to avoid further economic hardship for the public. He also said the committee would accept any government decision regarding live broadcasts, believing the public understands the current difficulties. He expects progress before the committee’s meeting in one week and trusts the Thai government can negotiate the broadcasting rights fees effectively.