Iptv Vs. Astv

[kenk3z]

IPTV is a California USA based firm that sells a few channels of Thai and Lao TV to the Americas market using IntelSat5 (now called Galaxy25). They appear to have a few Internet feeds of relatively poor quality for live TV, and a few channels that may be taped or perhaps relayed by other satellites from Thailand. Movies, Drama, Variety, News, etc. What they specifically sell is encrypted, and then they also provide the other channels on the satellite that are free-to-air.

ASTV1 is one of the free-to-air channels, and offers a relatively independent view of what's going on in Thailand. Sondhi Limthonkhul appears frequently, and all the PAD rallies were televised live.

On the IPTV box, we recently started getting a channel called "Thailand Overseas TV" which is nothing but a propaganda channel for Thaksin Shinawatra. Enough to make the strongest among you barf. Family pictures. Video taped statements and the like.

A few days later, ASTV disappeared from the IPTV box. We are IPTV subscribers, so my wife called the support number.

She was told that ASTV was no longer sending a signal for IPTV to provide. Rather convenient for them as IPTV is know to be generally pro-Thaksin. We have another non-IPTV satellite receiver for free-to-air stations, and my wife hooked that up and found that ASTV was still in its normal place on IntelSat5. The conclusion was that since IPTV has control of their box's programming, they blocked ASTV.

Next, my wife called ASTV in Thailand and told them what was transpiring. ASTV staff was not aware they were being blocked through IPTV. This was mentioned on the air by the ASTV newcasters.

My wife called IPTV again and told them she knew they were lying, that ASTV was still available free-to-air and there was no technical difficulty.

About an hour later ASTV became available again on IPTV.

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There seem to be a lot of media games going on, and the whole thing is rather disturbing that when one group gets control, they try to shut down "unfriendly" media. It makes you more aware of the role media plays, and provides some leading indicator of what's going to happen in Thailand if some of the media outlets suddenly "go away".

kenk3z

[kenk3z]

I found a more descriptive account of what is being broadcast on the new "TOTV" channel in the USA IPTV service:

"Here he goes again. Thaksin is broadcasting via a formerly Lao TV

satellite channel. It seems to have been re-labeled "TOTV". He is

crying about how unfair the Court banishment of Thai Rak Thai is.

Same message is on a loop; seems to have been sent to transmitter via

internet. Note the photo at his right elbow. Can't see what the

photo is, but it does not seem to be the standard homage to the King.

Yet, they are playing the Royal Anthem over and over again in between

the loops Thaksin's recorded address. Clearly this guy is building up

to take over again. Gonna be interesting to observe the political

machinations from here on. Stay tuned. "

This was found via a Google search for "TOTV Thailand".

This morning the TOTV channel was unavailable on IPTV. Hmmm. I wonder of someone's dual Thai/USA citizenship was threatened? There is a message on the channel that effectively says "TOTV is not available at this time, but will be returning shortly."

kenk3z

[USSPATRIOT]

Hi, I would like to get the Satellite to watch the Thai channels. How do I get it? Thank you and happy holidays to everyone.

Rachan

amazon.com

IPTV is a California USA based firm that sells a few channels of Thai and Lao TV to the Americas market using IntelSat5 (now called Galaxy25). They appear to have a few Internet feeds of relatively poor quality for live TV, and a few channels that may be taped or perhaps relayed by other satellites from Thailand. Movies, Drama, Variety, News, etc. What they specifically sell is encrypted, and then they also provide the other channels on the satellite that are free-to-air.

ASTV1 is one of the free-to-air channels, and offers a relatively independent view of what's going on in Thailand. Sondhi Limthonkhul appears frequently, and all the PAD rallies were televised live.

On the IPTV box, we recently started getting a channel called "Thailand Overseas TV" which is nothing but a propaganda channel for Thaksin Shinawatra. Enough to make the strongest among you barf. Family pictures. Video taped statements and the like.

A few days later, ASTV disappeared from the IPTV box. We are IPTV subscribers, so my wife called the support number.

She was told that ASTV was no longer sending a signal for IPTV to provide. Rather convenient for them as IPTV is know to be generally pro-Thaksin. We have another non-IPTV satellite receiver for free-to-air stations, and my wife hooked that up and found that ASTV was still in its normal place on IntelSat5. The conclusion was that since IPTV has control of their box's programming, they blocked ASTV.

Next, my wife called ASTV in Thailand and told them what was transpiring. ASTV staff was not aware they were being blocked through IPTV. This was mentioned on the air by the ASTV newcasters.

My wife called IPTV again and told them she knew they were lying, that ASTV was still available free-to-air and there was no technical difficulty.

About an hour later ASTV became available again on IPTV.

----------------------------------

There seem to be a lot of media games going on, and the whole thing is rather disturbing that when one group gets control, they try to shut down "unfriendly" media. It makes you more aware of the role media plays, and provides some leading indicator of what's going to happen in Thailand if some of the media outlets suddenly "go away".

kenk3z