How Local News Programs Can Be Improved

[Hobgoblin]

Like many others here who subscribe to Sophon Cable, I run across the local "news" programs from Pattaya City News and Pattaya People News. I always end up watching them just to see what new depths they will sink to with the airing of dead corpses and hysterical relatives of various crime victims... not to mention to be kept up to date on what the Mayor and local police are doing. Personally, I feel police officers having a party and board meetings in cultural events farangs care little about constitute as news to the farang population.

So what kind of changes would you suggest to the producers of these programs to make them more worthwhile? Here are a few suggestions from me:

1) Stop disclosing names of family members of crime victims. These people are going through enough already that they don't need a camera filming them, and a news program disclosing personal information.

2) Whenever someone's in trouble, their passport is shown -- regardless of what they did, they do not deserve to have their passport number and all that information broadcast all over the city for anyone to see.

3) Do we really need to know how old someone involved is? Or what room someone was murdered in, or what room in city hall a meeting was held? I would venture a guess that these are simple police reports and city memos that are hastily being translated into English, with no creative writing or thought involved.

4) "Around the Town" interviews on People News... the camera work NEEDS work. It looks to me like someone holding a camera in the same place -- using two cameras could achieve close-ups of the host and guests that look much more akin to real interviews.

5) REAL News. As mentioned above, I doubt any farang cares about who is visiting the police department to talk about police work. Real stories such as the water shortage, hot weather and the like are much more important for farangs living here. Real newscasts will inform people on the general subject as well as the actual story. When some yoke gets busted with 1,000 hits of extacy would be a good time to mention right on the news that such an offence can bring the death penalty... stuff like that.

6) Also think of the tourists who don't know Pattaya very well. Imagine if a newscast of people jumping out of hotel windows and bag snatchings all happening locally was the first TV *you* ever watched here? There are certainly GOOD things about Pattaya that can be broadcast in the news as well.

I'm certainly not an expert on video choreography or journalism, but I've watched enough professional newscasts to be able to make a fair comparison. This also isn't a trashing on these local news programs, I think their intentions are good, but their programs can be made so much better without too much effort.

Perhaps if anyone involved in these news programs reads this board, they will see some of our opinions and suggestions.

[Ajarn]

Frankly, from your description, it sounds perfect. Where can I buy past episodes? Is there a box set?

Btw, on Thai-language tv, they give out the home addresses of those arrested, and many others in the limelight, too.

TiT.

Edited May 11, 2005 by Ajarn

[MP5]

Frankly, from your description, it sounds perfect. Where can I buy past episodes? Is there a box set? 

Btw, on Thai-language tv, they give out the home addresses of those arrested, and many others in the limelight, too.

TiT.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think half the reason so many road accident vitims die at the scene is the local amulance come rescue crews wait to for the TV crews to arrive.

Hence they miss the Golden Hour.

Also how many days in a row do you see the same items.

There is NO real daily NEWS channel which could be a combination of local,national and international news. Even the Nation's English version is very brief.

[Sunny Valentine]

I gave up to expect anything from these dreadful Pattaya news channels. I really wonder what makes so many shops and bars (most of them give the impression they need every Baht anyway) pay for these amateurish ads? I for myself think more than twice before going to any of these establishments, as they give the impression that they must be so desperate for my money, I rather avoid unpleasant scenes!

Sunny

[ticklemyfancy]

lets all watch HAPPY NEWS with the clowns face!!!

people don't want to hear good news all the time, I like a bit of blood and guts

just not me own

[lovethailandlongtime]

IMO.pattaya city news is ok..Ok it repeats itself a bit but at least i dont have to wack the volume right up just to understand whats being said(unlike the othe two news channels)..

As for the all the gore,who wants good news???i like watching a bit of bad news,My gf is the same,she loves the bad stuff just as much as i do...

[MP5]

IMO.pattaya city news is ok..Ok it repeats itself a bit but at least i dont have to wack the volume right up just to understand whats being said(unlike the othe two news channels)..

As for the all the gore,who wants good news???i like watching a bit of bad news,My gf is the same,she loves the bad stuff just as much as i do...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My issue still stands I actually think the shock factor works some times but to die from it while a ambulance come rescue crew wait for a TV crew to turn up.

I don't think anyone would like to see their loved one die from simple delay of professional treatment.and I bet none of you good news or not would like to be in the frame of either the stretcher or the camera shot

[aqua4]

I think the news will improve over time as better players get on the market.

[thaiflyer1]

I see there is going to be a Pattaya People Expats Channel .........news reports 24 hours a day...........that/ll be nice for us all won't it?

[MP5]

I  see  there  is  going  to  be  a  Pattaya  People  Expats  Channel .........news  reports  24  hours  a  day...........that/ll  be  nice  for  us  all  won't  it?  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Please can we have the BBC back or with as many members this site has. I personally think a great informative,educational, funny and probably great advertising come infomercial channel could possibly be acquired, You're already broadcasting over the net. TAT could be a sponser here.

Ideas, Ideas there has to be a better Sopon option!

Edited May 16, 2005 by MP5

[thaiflyer1]

Please can we have the BBC back or with as many members this site has. I personally think a great informative,educational, funny and probably great advertising come infomercial channel could possibly be acquired, You're already broadcasting over the net. TAT could be a sponser here.

Re-tune your tv BBC World has been back for a couple of weeks on Sophon.

[MP5]

Please can we have the BBC back or with as many members this site has. I personally think a great informative,educational, funny and probably great advertising come infomercial channel could possibly be acquired, You're already broadcasting over the net. TAT could be a sponser here.

Re-tune your tv BBC World has been back for a couple of weeks on Sophon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cheers

[zoro]

Please can we have the BBC back or with as many members this site has. I personally think a great informative,educational, funny and probably great advertising come infomercial channel could possibly be acquired, You're already broadcasting over the net. TAT could be a sponser here.

Re-tune your tv BBC World has been back for a couple of weeks on Sophon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe sophon could fill all its 60 channels with cop programmes ie dixon of dock green z cars then it would blend in with the current english news advertising c p presented by pretend farang cops come on you guys why not dress up in your uniforms to present this trash it would make you feel really powerfull Sophon buck your ideas up cut these programmes to once aday and maximum time of 10 min if things do not improve the suicide rate could triple thai and farang this will not be repeated : repeated repeated............. ...........repeateddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

[MP5]

Please can we have the BBC back or with as many members this site has. I personally think a great informative,educational, funny and probably great advertising come infomercial channel could possibly be acquired, You're already broadcasting over the net. TAT could be a sponser here.

Re-tune your tv BBC World has been back for a couple of weeks on Sophon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe sophon could fill all its 60 channels with cop programmes ie dixon of dock green z cars then it would blend in with the current english news advertising c p presented by pretend farang cops come on you guys why not dress up in your uniforms to present this trash it would make you feel really powerfull Sophon buck your ideas up cut these programmes to once aday and maximum time of 10 min if things do not improve the suicide rate could triple thai and farang this will not be repeated : repeated repeated............. ...........repeateddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't forget Dr.Who and The Daleks. If I remember rightly the Tardis was a Police Box. Hello Hello Hello What Have We Ere Then.

[wilko]

EL news in Pattaya is so poor that one has to watch it...has anyone sent some to Chris Tarrant? They should!

There is one presenter in particular who I feel merits a mention, I’m not aware of his name but I’m sure some of you will recognise the description - He appears to have a somewhat unconventional command of the English Language especially pronunciation and nobody seems to do anything about it...he continually mispronounces the definite and indefinite articles, has a really annoying habit of calling the French Supermarket Carrefour "Car Foo", he pronounces Pattaya as “Pattier” as if it’s the comparative of “patty” and his interview style (well actually they are advertorials) is so stilted it’s comic.

It would seem that all the TV folks do here is follow the police around or hang around in the police station waiting for another pronouncement from the “Boys in Brown”. Incidents apparently reported word for word from police statements giving long-winded lists of officers' names and times that are completely unnecessary. Nothing it seems is ever followed up and if it was, it would be hard to find it in amongst all the repeated broadcasts over the next few days.

The only other info comes from either the council or surprise! surprise! - the police. The only stuff they are not spoon-fed is endlessly repeated advertorials for ex-pat run business ventures. (When the woman at the Moon River comes on I have to mute the sound!)

Overall There is absolutely no comment or analysis and no real news. Mindlessly reporting events without context is not news –it is not even information you can do anything with. Reporting deaths in graphic detail does not tell us if crime is on the up or down, it does not tell us whether Pattaya is more or less dangerous, without figures such as crime rates and demographics we can’t make any rational conclusions.

Going into a local business and asking the man “What do you think of the current economic situation” is pointless – what the ###### does he know? Or is he going to say “Well it’s crap and I’m going broke”, and if he does what does that tell us? Absolutely nothing. Is an estate agent going to turn round and say “The property market bubble has burst everybody get out” – I think not, he has a vested interest in earning his commission of property buyers. So what is the point of asking him anything without getting another viewpoint?

What about Pattaya Mail news? Well you can’t hear it because the sound is so atrocious and it appears to have been recorded on a 1960s brownie home movie camera.

Is there an English Language radio station in Pattaya? (I know Bangkok 107 FM)

[thaiflyer1]

So overall you like it then.

Edit........just my luck to be the first post on page 2.........there's the continuity all to ######

Edited May 19, 2005 by thaiflyer1

[patricktan]

Hey is there any news in english for local channel? Which Channel?

[thaiflyer1]

If you mean English Channel then Sophon have BBC World for round the clock news.

If you mean local news in English then there is Pattaya People News and Pattaya City News on Sophon.

There is also Fox News and CNN on Sophon Cable for the Americans amongst us.

[ProfessorFart]

Bear in mind that Sophon are only the providers and illicit ones at that. These news programmes are probably the only shows thay broadcast legally!

[wilko]

So overall you like it then.

You could be on Mastermind - specialist subject :- the bleeding obvious...

[wilko]

If  you  mean  English  Channel  then  Sophon  have  BBC  World  for  round  the  clock  news.

If  you  mean  local  news  in  English  then  there  is  Pattaya  People  News  and  Pattaya  City  News  on  Sophon.

There  is  also  Fox  News  and  CNN  on  Sophon  Cable  for  the  Americans  amongst  us.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"This is Fox News - the voice of evil" - quote: The Simpsons

"Fox News - We report you're deceived" - quote: Wilko

[aaaaaa]

I think half the reason so many road accident vitims die at the scene is the local amulance come rescue crews wait to for the TV crews to arrive.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was told another reason: it is common for the driver who has hit someone to come bakc and run over again, to make sure that the victim is realy dead. the reason for that - some oddity in thai law - like if a victim is dead, then case is sort of closed and a driver won't even caught or if cught - punished not as severly as if victim is still alive and brought to hospital.... I'm not sure I was able to convey the meaning properly - perhaps someone else knows better the subtleties of this loophole. nevertheless, it is a known fact that thai people won't want to be in such situation of a victim knocked down by passing car.

[Hobgoblin]

There is one presenter in particular who I feel merits a mention, I’m not aware of his name but I’m sure some of you will recognise the description -  He appears to have a somewhat unconventional command of the English Language especially pronunciation and nobody seems to do anything about it...he continually mispronounces the definite and indefinite articles,  has a really annoying habit of calling the French Supermarket Carrefour "Car Foo", he pronounces Pattaya as “Pattier” as if it’s the comparative of “patty” and his interview style (well actually they are advertorials) is so stilted it’s comic.

That's Pattaya city news... the one that has their logo spin with spaceship sounds in between their news "stories". I agree with the above, the presenter for that show reads the stories, does the interviews and narrarates the adverts... it seems to be his own personal TV show. His voice annoys me about as much as as his horrible mis-pronouncing of local words.

It would seem that all the TV folks do here is follow the police around or hang around in the police station waiting for another pronouncement from the “Boys in Brown”. Incidents apparently reported word for word from police statements giving long-winded lists of officers' names and times that are completely unnecessary. Nothing it seems is ever followed up and if it was, it would be hard to find it in amongst all the repeated broadcasts over the next few days.

True again. Long winded lists of officer's names that the English and German narrarators can barely prounounce. If they can't pronounce "Pattaya" right, good luck with Mayor Niran Watthanasarsatorn

They have to include the officer's names, otherwise these "news" reports would be 10 seconds long. The police (through some agreement or another) must be (as you said) spoon-feeding these gory and inane reoprts to the "reporters", so the reporters don't have to go out and do any real journalism work.

The only other info comes from either the council or surprise! surprise! - the police. The only stuff they are not spoon-fed is endlessly repeated advertorials for ex-pat run business ventures. (When the woman at the Moon River comes on I have to mute the sound!)

The whole method these news programs go about their jobs is disrupting and a real invasion of privacy. I hope that I never have to go to the police station to file a complaint -- because the next day, my face, name, nationality, age and passport photo page would be broadcast all over the city. I can't believe that these editors don't have a little more respect for people's PERSONAL information.

Overall There is absolutely no comment or analysis and no real news. Mindlessly reporting events without context is not news –it is not even information you can do anything with. Reporting deaths in graphic detail does not tell us if crime is on the up or down, it does not tell us whether Pattaya is more or less dangerous, without figures such as crime rates and demographics we can’t make any rational conclusions.

I couldn't have said that better myself. I *will* say that even though this is garbage news, I tend to watch a few moments of the news if I'm not watching or doing something else. Pattaya People News seems to have recently improved their writing staff, and hired a new narrarator I can actually understand. The stories are for the most part, the same exact useless dribble, but it seems to me someone new on the writing staff has been making an effort (at least) to make them less monotonous, and as presentable as possible given the weak source material they're most likey getting.

The old German guy who does the interviews for that channel is the most annoying. He can barely speak English, let alone conduct an interview!

It still would be nice to have real news that's useful to expats. A dead Norwegian in a tree does not enhance my experience here at all. Seeing a couple Yaba dealers sitting behind a table with all their drugs in front of them does me no good - I know it's illegal. The Mayor is having a meeting? The Police Captain going to a party? Who Cares!

That's the end of my rant. I know that these programs will never change, because there is not an immediate need to. But it's fun to complain about

Edited May 21, 2005 by Hobgoblin

[Kerryd]

I just spent 3 weeks at home, and watched a bit of TV now and then. After a couple of days, I could hardly bother turning the set on unless there was a good movie on. When the news came on, I'd go for a shower or out for a bite.

When you see the exact same news stories day after day, with the exact same ads, played in the exact same order, every single day, it gets boring to say the least.

Have these people never watched a real TV station ? If so, did it ever occur to any of them to take notes on how to improve their program/station ?

The one station (I think it is the one that show the Pattaya Mail News), looks like strictly a family affair as far as the presenters/reporters are concerned. Qualifications not required, just family affilliation.

The ad for the hotel (I forgot the name, thankfully), where they ask you to come join in their Songkran celebration, 4 weeks after Songkran finished.

Let's not forget, TONY'S FITNESS ACADEMY ! I dread the day when Tony decides to run for Mayor of Pattaya. His current ads are bad enough.

On the other side of the coin, just to be fair. These guys (stations/channels) probably are not making a lot of coin, and therefore can't afford to hire professional programming specialists, ad men, cameramen, reporters and so on.

If you want to look professional, you've got to pay professonal. When you pay amateur, you get amateur. (How's that for a saying !)

That's my 25 satang for the day !

[zoro]

I just spent 3 weeks at home, and watched a bit of TV now and then. After a couple of days, I could hardly bother turning the set on unless there was a good movie on. When the news came on, I'd go for a shower or out for a bite.

When you see the exact same news stories day after day, with the exact same ads, played in the exact same order, every single day, it gets boring to say the least.

Have these people never watched a real TV station ? If so, did it ever occur to any of them to take notes on how to improve their program/station ?

The one station (I think it is the one that show the Pattaya Mail News), looks like strictly a family affair as far as the presenters/reporters are concerned. Qualifications not required, just family affilliation.

The ad for the hotel (I forgot the name, thankfully), where they ask you to come join in their Songkran celebration, 4 weeks after Songkran finished.

Let's not forget, TONY'S FITNESS ACADEMY ! I dread the day when Tony decides to run for Mayor of Pattaya. His current ads are bad enough.

On the other side of the coin, just to be fair. These guys (stations/channels) probably are not making a lot of coin, and therefore can't afford to hire professional programming specialists, ad men, cameramen, reporters and so on.

If you want to look professional, you've got to pay professonal. When you pay amateur, you get amateur. (How's that for a saying !)

That's my 25 satang for the day !

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Very good how about PAYING PEANUTS YOU GET MONKEYS.Sh t they must be making a bit of brass how can they afford those nice uniforms and handcuffs they parade around in every nite on walking street.Waste of time all these channels.

[fourbaht]

What makes me laugh is the fact they report and show Thais and farrangs getting caught for copyright infringement, which is fair enough, however whats the bet they pay no royalties to any of the musicians who's music they use on a comercial basis day in and day out?

The hypocracy peeves me more than the bad quality programing, they think they are above the law because they are rentacops.

Edited May 24, 2005 by fourbaht

[niceboy]

Becareful fourbaht, you'll upset the fat bald guy

[MP5]

Royalties:

I think any broadcaster would have to pay an APRA or it's equal depending on their location. (TIT)

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), is a non-profit association that collects and distributes Australian and New Zealand copyright royalties for music creators and publishers from around the world.

Representing Music Creators

Membership covers the vast majority of the world’s composers, writers and publishers. We have more than 38,000 Australasian members and, through arrangements with similar organisations overseas, we also represent over 2 million creators and publishers from across the globe. For more information about how we represent creators, go to representing music creators.

Copyright and APRA

APRA administers the public performance and communication rights in the musical works we represent. For further information on copyright, go to copyright and APRA.

Licensing Music Users

Our clients include venues that play music, television and radio stations, and increasingly businesses that use music online. Because it would be impractical for these clients to obtain permission from the owner of copyright in each musical work they use, they enter an agreement with APRA. APRA monitors their performance and communication of music, collects a royalty and distributes this payment to the copyright owners. This provides a simple means of complying with copyright law. It also ensures payment to the copyright owners whose music is performed or communicated in public. For more information, go to licensing music users

Corporate APRA

Since 1997, APRA has also managed the reproduction rights business of the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners’ Society (AMCOS). AMCOS represents virtually all music publishers in Australia and New Zealand and, through reciprocal arrangements, the vast majority of the world’s composers, writers and music publishers. For more information about the APRA/AMCOS relationship go to corporate APRA.

Distributing Royalties

Since we were established in 1926, the APRA/AMCOS integrated business has grown to now collect more than $146 million annually and to distribute more than $127 million a year. For more information, go to distributing royalties.

As we continue to grow, our aims remain the same: to provide reasonable and accessible licences for the use of music, and to distribute the royalties to which copyright owners are entitled as efficiently and quickly as possible.

I know my brother's band get cheques out of the blue. A lot of there work is pub gigs doing covers and then when they had enough of their own material they recorded. I think they have 5/6 albums come cd's but there real money came from there own songs or intro's being used on television and radio commercials. A couple of beer ads, a really cool car commercial and a theme for a major sporting event. Even the BBC jingle sells!

Edited May 24, 2005 by MP5

[zoro]

Becareful fourbaht, you'll upset the fat bald guy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What a scope for the fat bald guy revolutioning english news in fun town this week.The guy who gave the young lady a dose of clap 12 months ago clapped eyes on him smacked him over the head with a bottle.To the rescue of this falang with a headache THE I WANT TO BE A COP FALANG BRIGADE marching the pair of them off to the nick where the young lady was charged with assault.The sad part about this is the PRETEND COPS standing behind the couple grinning and pointing the finger all shown on PATTAYA SH TTY NEWS what a sad state of affairs if that is the best the fat ALLMIGHTY PRETEND COP can come up with please put every one out of misery and look for a different pastime cop work is affecting your day job.CAN someone explain why there is a need to show the PPN cop wandering round a nick as if he is the PMs right hand man .SOPHON wake up and get rid of these pillocks before every one cancels.IS banglamung tv free of all this trash.ONLY keep sophon for the old duchess.

[pluto_manibo]

We have Banglamung tv here, I was thinking of switching for a laugh, but didn't.... The Banglamung tv News in English is an outright joke....It could be Swahili or Gujarati, I couldn't tell....In Thai it is a lot more bearable. Atleast we seemed to be spared from the heavy rotation of local adverts....