The competition will not be televised. At least not for free.
A Thai judge has ruled that a 2008 rule by Thai broadcast regulators requiring World Cup matches be shown free should be struck down.
Although not a final ruling, the judge’s recommendation will likely be adopted in a suit brought by the rights holder of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which seeks to be the only provider of the event’s coverage on a pay-per-view basis.
Should the judge’s recommendation be adopted, viewers will only be able to watch this yer’s World Cup matches via RS International Broadcasting and Sport Management, whom the judge said purchased the rights prior to the rule later issued by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.
Should the NBTC find that free viewing of the World Cup serves the public interest, the judge said, it should purchase the rights through government channels, Bangkok Post reported.
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