Update | ATV English-language news team threatens blackout over unpaid salaries
'Tapped out' newsroom staff demand unpaid salary for past two months
Journalists at cash-strapped Asia Television have warned their employers they will stop English-language news broadcasts - which the station must provide under the conditions of its licence - after today if they do not receive the wages they are owed.
Some of the 11-strong English news editorial team had not received December's pay while January's salary had not been paid to any of them, the team's head said.
Yonden Lhatoo, editor-in-chief of news and public affairs at ATV World channel, said the staff had asked their employers verbally and in writing to pay the salaries by today, or they would cease news broadcasts.
"We've given the owners an ultimatum to pay us by Friday or that night will be the last English-news broadcast. We're all tapped out and have no more to give," Lhatoo said.
The company had not replied by yesterday afternoon, Lhatoo said. He added that some members of the team planned to leave the company if they were not paid by the deadline.