Thai Government Denies MCOT and Thai PBS Merger Rumors

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas has officially refuted recent speculation concerning a merger between the state-owned broadcaster MCOT and the public broadcaster Thai PBS. Speaking on the matter, Ekniti stated that no such proposal has been presented to his office.

This clarification follows a meeting of the State Enterprise Policy Committee (SEPC) held on September 17, 2026. Thibadee Wattanakul, Director-General of the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO), confirmed that the committee approved rehabilitation and efficiency improvement plans for eight state enterprises, including MCOT. While SEPO has developed strategies to enhance MCOT’s operational performance, officials emphasized that these plans do not involve a merger with Thai PBS.

Authorities cited significant structural and legal differences between the two organizations, noting that Thai PBS operates under a distinct mandate as a public media entity. SEPO officials further clarified that they are unaware of the origin of the merger rumors. Because MCOT is a publicly listed company on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, specific details of the rehabilitation plan remain confidential until they are formally reviewed by the Cabinet next week to avoid potential market volatility or legal repercussions. For residents and observers, this confirms that the status quo for both media organizations remains unchanged as the government focuses on internal restructuring rather than consolidation.