Dtv To Launch Jan 19, Seen As A New Mouthpiece For Pro-thaksin Camp

[george]

DTV to launch Jan 19, seen as a new mouthpiece for pro-Thaksin camp

BANGKOK: -- DTV will on Monday launch its satellite broadcast tailored to advance democracy and oppose the coup, barred Thai Rak Thai executive Adisorn Piengket said on Thursday.

The station is under management by D Station Co. Ltd, which Adisorn is the chairman, and supported by anti-coup activists linked to the pro-Thaksin camp.

Key supporters of the station are Jaturporn Prompan, Veera Musigapong, Natthawut Saikua, Noppadon Patama, Sunai Jullapongsathorn and Wichit Plangsrisakul.

Reacting to the planned inauguration of DTV, PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtaey said the new station is free to broadcast although it is obligated to abide by the law regulating its programming.

-- The Nation 2009-01-15

[Jai Dee]

Satit affirms govt not to interfere with media

The Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office asserted today (January 15) that the launching of DTV television station network should not be problematic, affirming that the government would not interfere with media.

Mr. Satit Wonghnongtaey, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, stated today that the launching of DTV television station network was a re-open of the existing television network. If the re-opening procedure has been in accord to the laws, then it should not be problematic. Also, he added that it was essential to assure that the broadcast contents would be impartial to different interest groups. However, Mr. Satit firmly insisted that the government would not interfere with media.

DTV has been reportedly run by the anti-government red shirted group.

Mr. Satit then commented on the planned phone-in of the ousted Prime Minster Pol Lt Col Thaksin Shinawatra into one of the programmes broadcast through DTV network that Pol Lt Col Thaksin had all the rights to do so. Nevertheless, he urged the media of all types to present their news in such a way that it would not lead to further divergences in the nation.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 15 January 2009

[Steve2UK]

Satit affirms govt not to interfere with media

The Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office asserted today (January 15) that the launching of DTV television station network should not be problematic, affirming that the government would not interfere with media.

Mr. Satit Wonghnongtaey, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, stated today that the launching of DTV television station network was a re-open of the existing television network. If the re-opening procedure has been in accord to the laws, then it should not be problematic. Also, he added that it was essential to assure that the broadcast contents would be impartial to different interest groups. However, Mr. Satit firmly insisted that the government would not interfere with media.

DTV has been reportedly run by the anti-government red shirted group.

Mr. Satit then commented on the planned phone-in of the ousted Prime Minster Pol Lt Col Thaksin Shinawatra into one of the programmes broadcast through DTV network that Pol Lt Col Thaksin had all the rights to do so. Nevertheless, he urged the media of all types to present their news in such a way that it would not lead to further divergences in the nation.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 15 January 2009

[my bold emphasis]

Taking the two highlighted sentences together - it's difficult to see how the impartiality will be assured if the government won't interfere if/when the broadcast contents aren't impartial. Are there any (government-independent) laws or licensing regulations that could/would enforce impartiality? Does the same apply to ASTV, NBT etc?

[Plus]

ASTV is broadcasting from Hong Kong, there's little the government can legally do about it's impartiality.

[samgrowth]

ASTV is broadcasting from Hong Kong, there's little the government can legally do about it's impartiality.

Then why was PTV shut down? They also broadcasted from overseas.

[Siripon]

ASTV is broadcasting from Hong Kong, there's little the government can legally do about it's impartiality.

Then why was PTV shut down? They also broadcasted from overseas.

Thaksin shut it down after winning the election, why waste money when you can abuse NBT freely?

[samgrowth]

ASTV is broadcasting from Hong Kong, there's little the government can legally do about it's impartiality.

Then why was PTV shut down? They also broadcasted from overseas.

Thaksin shut it down after winning the election, why waste money when you can abuse NBT freely?

Wong. PTV was shut down by the military governmet, while allowing ASTV to air. Would you say it is double standard?

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-sout...?parentid=64277

Bangkok Post Thursday, February 22, 2007

The government will lodge a complaint asking police to shut down the new satellite television channel PTV, which is linked to the Thai Rak Thai party, if it starts broadcasting on March 1 as scheduled, director-general of the Public Relations Department Pramoj Rathavinij said yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan to decide the fate of PTV, Mr Pramoj said the station had been established illegally, without a licence from the state.

"We are ready to lodge a complaint asking police to arrest them [the PTV operators] if they still launch it in March," he said.

Earlier, Mr Thirapat, who supervises government media policy, said the government would no longer allow new community radio, satellite and cable television stations in the country and said existing stations would be regulated and managed by the rule of law.

Mr Thirapat blamed the previous government of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for letting media outlets mushroom so they became out of control.

ASTV's News One Channel, owned by media mogul Sonthi Limthongkul, has also come under fire for being established illegally.

But the satellite channel has been given temporary immunity by the Administrative Court, allowing it to continue broadcasting on grounds of the right to freedom of expression.

[Plus]

So old and well established ASTV had a court injunction against stopping it (in 2005!) while PTV never got a license in the first place.

How's that a double standard?

[Steve2UK]

ASTV is broadcasting from Hong Kong, there's little the government can legally do about it's impartiality.

I think that, if any government were actually serious about wanting to, it could introduce legislation to restrict/penalise the locally-based support operation, uplinks, advertisers etc - cf. the UK government introducing laws in the 60's to combat the offshore (literally - they were based on ships and WW2 "forts" out to sea) "pirate" radio stations......... which then folded one by one. Granted this is Thailand - and I think there's very little (if any) prospect of that happening in the case of these stations.

[sriracha john]

Nattawut and Jatuporn and Veera and Jakrapob

The above failed-PTV guys are back now... with DTV...

Thaksin supporters launch DTV

Founders deny deposed prime minister gave financial support

Politicians linked to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will on Monday launch the DTV satellite television station, with the goal of advancing democracy and opposing coups.

Banned Thai Rak Thai Party executive Adisorn Piangket yesterday said the station would be managed by D Station, with himself as Chairman.

It is being co-founded by anti-coup activists linked to the pro-Thaksin camp, he told a press conference.

Thaksin was not involved in establishing or financing the station, but rather the founders raised funds from friends and family to start the venture.

"Thaksin is floating in the ocean right now. He has almost nothing left, not even land to live on. We don't dare bother him," he said.

Key supporters of the station are Jatuporn Prompan, Veera Musigapong, Natthawut Saikua, Noppadon Pattama, Sunai Jullapongsathorn and Wichit Plangsrisakul.

Programming is varied but with a theme of promoting democracy; for example, the "Truth Today" talk show by Veera, Natthawut and Jatuporn, "Talk to Adisorn" hosted by Adisorn and "Democracy Station" with former government spokesman Suparat Nakbunnam.

"Senior Lawyer" will be hosted by Thana Benjathikul, "World View" by a former PM's Office Minister and "House Number 111" by Wichit.

Phra Phayom Kallayano, the popular abbot of Suan Kaew Temple, will air his daily morning dharma talk on the station.

Even though Thaksin was not involved in opening the station, he is welcome to phone in to any of these programmes whenever he wants and if he has something to explain to the public, Natthawut said.

A special one-hour programme will be aired each Sunday to comment on issues discussed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in his weekly talk show on NBT.

The group had planned to go on air on March 1 but moved the launch forward because of the changing political situation, Adisorn said.

Viewers who can receive ASTV, cable-television operators and community radio stations can tune in to DTV for free, Natthawut said.

The founders raised funds to run the station by selling energy drinks, bottled water, fruit juice and other products, such as eggs, under the brand "Truth Today", he said.

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said the new station was free to broadcast, although it must abide by laws governing its content. Satit dismissed concerns about possible government intervention, saying there was no plans to tamper with media freedom. Even if the deposed premier were to call in from abroad during broadcasts, Satit anticipates no problems, since Thaksin has a right to do so. But he reminded media outlets to exercise professional judgement when reporting news that seemed to sow divisiveness.

- The Nation / 2009-01-16

Edited January 16, 2009 by Jai Dee

[sriracha john]

The founders raised funds to run the station by selling energy drinks

First, there was the failed Thaksin Fight! energy drink...

Thaksin: genie in a bottle?

Thaksin … Fight! is the latest energy drink on the market. Sun Spark Beverage's general manager Nachpoan Supatana tells Sunday Xpress why they've named it that.

Why did you call it Thaksin … Fight!?

We've visited many shops in the North and the Northeast over the past two months. They say the slowdown in trade has them wondering when Thaksin Shinawatra will come back, and that made us wonder why we didn't launch a product to tap the grass roots, such as taxi-drivers, labourers and farmers.

They're our main target group. I certainly think that sort of person would go for it more than Mark 9, the nickname of Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, or PM Samak Sundaravej.

It had to be something political, did it?

Oh yes! We did have alternatives, such as Udon or Payap Isaan. We thought about having several brands, but decided it would cause too much confusion. Normally we'd avoid politics, but we are marketers, not politicians. It is a marketing gimmick, certainly, but if Thai Rak Thai could be successful by using marketing *gimmicks* in politics, why shouldn't we by using politics in marketing?

Will Thaksin's return benefit your product?

I'll say! The whole point of marketing is how to tap the target groups in as short a time as possible. We think we've done it there: when he returns our brand will be in the public eye.

What sort of feedback have you had?

They love it in the North and the Northeast. We were surprised at it going down so well in Bangkok, though, with it being such a strong base of the Democrats.

I'll admit it's tough going in the South, though we have tried to tell them the drink has nothing to do with politics. *A direct lie as per his above comments.* We do have to sell it in the South, because a lot of Isaan people work there, and I think they'd buy it; the difficulty is getting people to stock it and distribute it there.

What sort of sales are you looking at?

We aim for 3 per cent to 5 per cent of the energy-drink market with a value of 1.4 Billion Baht. We think Thaksin ... Fight! can survive the competition. We'll advertise it on television as a drink that will help develop the country.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thais-Fight-...51.html&hl=

Thais Fight Over " Thaksin, Fight " Energy Drink

Now, there's Truth Today! energy drink... (arranged in front of the moron Jatuporn)

Pro-Thaksin leaders; Nuttawut Saikua, Jatuporn Prompan, and Veera Musikapong sit in a ceremony to launch DTV; new sattlelite TV station, on Thursday. Its first broadcast will be on January 19.

[sriracha john]

It's an all-star lineup with shows on DTV to include:

"Thailand in the Eyes of the World" by Jakrapob;

"Democracy Station" by Supparat Nakboonnam, the former Deputy Government Spokesperson;

"Democracy Classroom" by former PPP MP and current PTP MP Sunai Jullapongtorn and Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakawat, author of "Thaksin Where Are You?";

and "Villager's Lawyer" by Thana Benjathikul, Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer.

Ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer Thana Benjathikul, second from right

Former lawyer of ousted PM jailed for contempt of court

Criminal Court sentenced a former lawyer of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to six months in jail and a fine of 70,000 Baht for contempt of court. However, the court put Thana Benjathikul on probation for two years. The court found Thana guilty of contempt of court for criticising the court on jailing three former Election Commission members.

- The Nation - 28 June 2007

SAMAK FOUND GUILTY

...Samak was represented in the courtroom by his lawyer, Thana Benjathikul.

Core leaders of the red shirts, Weera, Nattawut, and Jatuporn will continue to host the "Truth Today" show.

Jatuporn can be represented by yelling at university students for refusing to take TRT bribes...

Thai Rak Thai Party Deputy Spokesman Jatuporn Promphan, right, enters into a heated exchange with Ramkhamhaeng University student union leader Somchote Meechana at the Party’s headquarters yesterday. Somchote led a protest against what he termed political interference in the university’s affairs.

The Nation - Feb. 1, 2007

[hammered]

If they want it to be succesful, I would recommend they announce that dear leader will be making a speech on it on day one and sit back and await the Thai medai to market the launch todeath for them.

I would also recommend they make a bunch of defammotary statements against government ministers ASAP so they can get a number of legal cases brought against them and claim intimidation.

I would also recommend a bunch of silly soap operas with many cleavage and leg shots to attract the majorty of viewers of TV who are not the lsightest bit interested in politics most of the time.

I would further recommend that they dont serialise "red slaughter" aka murder of some old dude dragged from his car by the boys.

anyway I am sure this bunch of media savvy wondermen dont need any advice on setting up a TV station. After all look at the success of PTV back in the day which had a large staff of salaried professionals to back it up. Oh on second thoughts maybe they should get back to the start of this comment.......

Edited to add: Oh apart form all the cleavage stuff they should get a few hunky handsome dudes in the soap operas too at least one of whom should be openly gay.

Edited January 16, 2009 by hammered

[dee123]

why not "google" JON UNGPAKORN PRESS FREEDOM.................for more in-depth info

Edited January 16, 2009 by dee123

[dee123]

Jon Ungpakorn is asking for no-strings "FREE" media....TV similar to BBC and others,......all of the above are just political mouthpieces,....hence not "FREE"

Edited January 16, 2009 by dee123

[dee123]

I have just found this and I believe it would enlighten many Thais and also Farangs about some of the deep problems Thai society is facing at the moment www.prachatai.com interesting reading and "FREE"

[sriracha john]

Someone was down for cooking

That's a good point. Other than the worthless, repetitious waste-of-time, nonsense-crap shows outlined above, will Samak be back on DTV with a cooking show? At least that might be something worthwhile on the otherwise Thaksin-drone DTV.

Edited January 16, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Jon Ungpakorn is asking for no-strings "FREE" media....TV similar to BBC and others,......all of the above are just political mouthpieces,....hence not "FREE"

Why doesn't he gather up his legions of supporters and believers and start up MTV (Marxist TeleVision) and thus create his own "free media"?

Edited January 16, 2009 by sriracha john

[Steve2UK]

Someone was down for cooking

That's a good point. Other than the worthless, repetitious waste-of-time, nonsense-crap shows outlined above, will Samak be back on DTV with a cooking show? At least that might be something worthwhile on the otherwise Thaksin-drone DTV.

Unlikely, given the health issues of which you are well aware. No matter, keep the torrent of obsessive diatribes coming - entertaining for some and illuminating for others.

Edited January 17, 2009 by Steve2UK

[TAWP]

Jon Ungpakorn is asking for no-strings "FREE" media....TV similar to BBC and others,......all of the above are just political mouthpieces,....hence not "FREE"

Sure, apart from the fact that BBC is neither "FREE" nor...objective. In all honesty, they are very much a political mouthpiece. It all depends on where in the audience you sit.

And ofcourse this new channel above would be even less objective...

[sriracha john]

Someone was down for cooking

That's a good point. Other than the worthless, repetitious waste-of-time, nonsense-crap shows outlined above, will Samak be back on DTV with a cooking show? At least that might be something worthwhile on the otherwise Thaksin-drone DTV.

Unlikely, given the health issues of which you are well aware.

Oh, so then his alleged condition has been verified? Missed that story. Please share.

[Steve2UK]

Someone was down for cooking

That's a good point. Other than the worthless, repetitious waste-of-time, nonsense-crap shows outlined above, will Samak be back on DTV with a cooking show? At least that might be something worthwhile on the otherwise Thaksin-drone DTV.

Unlikely, given the health issues of which you are well aware.

Oh, so then his alleged condition has been verified? Missed that story. Please share.

Fine - for the sake of completeness: "health/legal issues". You have any evidence let alone proof to factually contradict the health aspect as so widely reported? If so, please share. Was the 2-year sentence for defamation as confirmed by the Appeals Court overturned by the Supreme Court on further appeal? If so, I missed that. If not, then any way you care to look at it - through health or jail sentence or absence from the country - it's, as I said, unlikely.

Is this new-found interest in completeness something that will continue in your posts from now on? That would be a very welcome development.

[baht&sold]

Someone was down for cooking

That's a good point. Other than the worthless, repetitious waste-of-time, nonsense-crap shows outlined above, will Samak be back on DTV with a cooking show? At least that might be something worthwhile on the otherwise Thaksin-drone DTV.

Unlikely, given the health issues of which you are well aware.

Oh, so then his alleged condition has been verified? Missed that story. Please share.

Fine - for the sake of completeness: "health/legal issues". You have any evidence let alone proof to factually contradict the health aspect as so widely reported? If so, please share. Was the 2-year sentence for defamation as confirmed by the Appeals Court overturned by the Supreme Court on further appeal? If so, I missed that. If not, then any way you care to look at it - through health or jail sentence or absence from the country - it's, as I said, unlikely.

Is this new-found interest in completeness something that will continue in your posts from now on? That would be a very welcome development.

Samak with his confrontational bluster and his shoot from the lip comments on the Tak Bai massacre and Burma Generals being "good Buddhists" etc deserve complete contempt. However, don't wish the ol' barnacle ill-health. May he 'grumble n cook' once more (pure entertainment;) With ASTV daily blag gone quiet and NBT gone all soft, DTV should fill the comedic political extreme vacuum in the meantime.

Edited January 17, 2009 by baht&sold

[Steve2UK]

Samak with his confrontational bluster and his shoot from the lip comments on the Tak Bai massacre and Burma Generals being "good Buddhists" etc deserve complete contempt. However, don't wish the ol' barnacle ill-health. May he 'grumble n cook' once more (pure entertainment;) With ASTV daily blag gone quiet and NBT gone all soft, DTV should fill the comedic political extreme vacuum in the meantime.

Very well put, B&S - agree with you on all the above.

[hammered]

Someone was down for cooking

That's a good point. Other than the worthless, repetitious waste-of-time, nonsense-crap shows outlined above, will Samak be back on DTV with a cooking show? At least that might be something worthwhile on the otherwise Thaksin-drone DTV.

Unlikely, given the health issues of which you are well aware.

Oh, so then his alleged condition has been verified? Missed that story. Please share.

Fine - for the sake of completeness: "health/legal issues". You have any evidence let alone proof to factually contradict the health aspect as so widely reported? If so, please share. Was the 2-year sentence for defamation as confirmed by the Appeals Court overturned by the Supreme Court on further appeal? If so, I missed that. If not, then any way you care to look at it - through health or jail sentence or absence from the country - it's, as I said, unlikely.

Is this new-found interest in completeness something that will continue in your posts from now on? That would be a very welcome development.

Samak with his confrontational bluster and his shoot from the lip comments on the Tak Bai massacre and Burma Generals being "good Buddhists" etc deserve complete contempt. However, don't wish the ol' barnacle ill-health. May he 'grumble n cook' once more (pure entertainment;) With ASTV daily blag gone quiet and NBT gone all soft, DTV should fill the comedic political extreme vacuum in the meantime.

Agree with you on everything except the ASTV going quiet. they re still there broadcasting and still have their line which is different form that of the new government. However, their viwership has gone down as to be expected. That is something DTV will have to contend with too. While there are hardcore supporters and political obsessives these are a minority and most news stations see numbers going up when there is a crisis. DTV are opening at a time when the crisis in politics is at a lot lower level than a few months ago. Already ASTV through the PAD are holding provincial based parties and gatherings to relaunch their ideas and keep their faithful on board as much as possible. DTV go into this some way behind the game. They also have never been any where near as good as ASTV at actually attracting viewers, PR and keeping the product at a level to suit audiences. This is something that DTV will need to address with their previous PR awful and their programs and hosts boring as admitted by even many PPP supporters. The tension between the dandy Jakrpob and the old Ram boy Jatuporn and Nattawut shows that at least Jakrapob may realise thing sahve to change rather than stick to the old failed formula.

As the Dems copied and advanced populist polices from TRT maybe DTV should copy and try to improve on the style and approach of how ASTV runs.

For the record I dont side with those wanting to ban anything. If they are private as opposed to state run stations let them all compete legally in the market place.

I love the final "comedic" comment by the way.

[TAWP]

Haven't seen many tears in this tread...ofcourse they should be welcome to have their own satellite channel if they so wish.

What I do have seen is that you continue to call the people sitting in at the airport 'terrorists', which frankly is an insult to real victims of terrorism and those fighting the good fight against terrorists.

Not that you would care.

[TAWP]

Not terrorists? Those who blocked Government House, slept in there since Aug till Dec, brought in self-made bombs, blocked Khun Somchai from announcing his policies at Parliament House, blocked airports and killed people are terrorists. The Law allows them to protest but they must protest in style, such as what the reds are doing.

/../

People around the world including majority of Thais are not stupid to believe in what he is saying.

I agree that those that snuck to the PAD camps and fired grenades from the M79 launcher into sleeping protesters could be labeled terrorists as their intent was to maim and kill as a tool to insight fear and terror in those daring to take a stand. It doesn't matter if that stand isn't in line with ones own, it's just not something that should be done. But you condone the killing of innocent protesters. That makes you a supporter of terrorists.

Hope the label fits.

And btw, unless you can somehow back up your claim that the majority of Thais would be against the current government, well...source it or lose it?

Edited January 18, 2009 by TAWP

[sriracha john]

It's an all-star lineup with shows on DTV to include:

"Democracy Classroom" by former PPP MP and current PTP MP Sunai Jullapongtorn and Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakawat, author of "Thaksin Where Are You?";

Army to handle its officer's appearance on DTV

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva this morning (January 18) addressed concerns over the appropriateness of Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakkawat, an army officer, on her appearance on newly launched DTV television station, a satelite station run by anti-government protesters, saying that the matter will be left to the discretion of the Army.

The premier spoke this morning on the Army's current review of Lieutenant Sunisa, a former TV5 reporter, who appeared on anti-government Democracy TV station during its launch today.

The Lieutenant was once brought under review for publishing the controversial, "Thaksin Where Are You?", book, depicting her interview with the self-exiled former premier [former] Police Lieutenant-Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra in London. She is now being questioned on her appearance on DTV.

The premier stated that he has not been briefed details of the review, reminding that the armed forces have their own regulations and disciplinary protocols. He also noted that the satellite television is perfectly legal, but will be scrutinized for appropriateness.

- ThaiNews / 2009-01-18

[Koo82]

And btw, unless you can somehow back up your claim that the majority of Thais would be against the current government, well...source it or lose it?

You must take terrorist method to deal with terrorists, because no one did a sh_t to stop PAD from sleeping in these places illegally.

I only can base on numbers of red shirts attended the big meetings, from 50,000 to 90,000 people, compared with 5,000 to 9,000 yellow PAD. This is what can be seen.

The current government won't make any survey to know whom the majority of Thais (including me) support. They only interview those who are on their side.

What cannot be seen will be seen when the water comes up to some certain level.

[Koo82]

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva this morning (January 18) addressed concerns...

She is now being questioned on her appearance on DTV....

...will be scrutinized for appropriateness.

Why worry about DTV?

He didn't express any concern about ASTV.