Talk Radio

[Felix Lynn]

Just informal survey and information thread about Talk Radio. It's hugely popular in the states, often out ranking music stations. Is it popular in your country? Who listens to it? Is it something Thailand needs for the swelling foreign population? If you are a talk radio listener, what kind of talk radio do you listen to?

any comments appreciated.

Felix Lynn

[tuky]

I used to listen to talkback radio a lot in Australia, I never actually called in though.

There are a lot of topics that are worthy of discussion in Thailand, if the talkback sessions are held by theme I think it would be very interesting.

An example being the new Airport, the water problems in Pattaya, recent flooding in CM etc. Wouldn't it have been interesting to listen to CM'ites talking about the floods as they were happening?

Unfortunately I am at work in another time zone at the moment so do not have the option to call in until the midnight time slot.

Are you thinking of holding talkback sessions by theme Felix or a free for all?

[samran]

As long as its not redneck talk radio, I like it too.

Check out ABC Australia or any of the BBC channels for examples.

The stuggle is going to be finding a good compare, who are worth their weight in gold. They need to be contemporary, politically astute, fair minded and yet able to be critical when someone makes a statement they can't justify, and up to date with the actually happenings around town and most likely able to read the Thai press (as opposed to what one bloke told him at the bar last night).

[Felix Lynn]

both comments are helpful. we are in the planning stages of format and so forth. there is probably room for different types of talk shows, topic driven, political, newsy, sex talk, etc.

currently, if you call in, your comments are aired on the next show. we are working on a live call in show...hopefully soon.

[FreedomDude]

Just curious: what's the extent of Thai language talk radio in Thailand. I don't listen to the radio in Thailand much. Are there popular Thai talk radio programs? What kinds of topics do they discuss? I enjoy talk radio in the States, but it's hard to get a balance of opinions with most talk shows leaning hard right.

Edited August 25, 2005 by FreedomDude

[chuchok]

I still listen to talkback radio from home(on the net). apart from a couple of certain radio news hosts/DJ's that I enjoy, 90% of what I listen to is sport related.

[Jockstar]

Never really got into talk radio. Unless it was football on a Saturday afternoon.

[Felix Lynn]

Just curious: what's the extent of Thai language talk radio in Thailand. I don't listen to the radio in Thailand much. Are there popular Thai talk radio programs? What kinds of topics do they discuss? I enjoy talk radio in the States, but it's hard to get a balance of opinions with most talk shows leaning hard right.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i can't answer that. talk radio, however, is huge in the states. it does lean hard right but there are alternatives out there.

[calibanjr.]

I listen to Air America, which is "liberal" talk radio live-streaming (live in BKK). They actually do interviews and discuss things other than strictly politics, as opposed to the usual hate radio of the right wing. I also listen to WEEI (Boston) to get my home fix on the Red Sox and the Patriots.

[Felix Lynn]

I listen to Air America, which is "liberal" talk radio live-streaming (live in BKK).  They actually do interviews and discuss things other than strictly politics, as opposed to the usual hate radio of the right wing.  I also listen to WEEI (Boston) to get my home fix on the Red Sox and the Patriots.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

cool. yeah, air america is like the answer to rush limbaugh and the other right wing talk show hosts. for some reason, the right has seized the format so successfully...but there is plenty of choices out there: tom leykis, sex talk, phil hendrie, character driven comedy where he does all the voices, love line, with adam corolla and dr. drew., talking about everything under the sun for mostly teens and twenty somethings. i'm not familiar with other countries other than the BBC, which is the mother of all news/talk radio.

[Bird Man]

One item on my moving to Thailand checklist is getting Rush Limbaugh and Shaun Hannity via Internet download.

***k Airhead America.

[taxexile]

i listen to quite a bit of thai talk radio when in bangkok , 100.00fm , and manage to follow a fair bit of it.

between news of traffic accidents , including grisly details of injuries and deaths , they have talkbacks on current news topics , recently its been focussing on the antisocial behaviour of thai teenagers.

afternoons and after 9pm is the best time.

the thais who phone in with their comments come from a wide range of backgrounds and their views seem tolerant and well balanced , with very little of the "jail 'em , hang 'em" views that you would certainly get on uk shows.

most respondants seem very well informed , and the presenters /moderators do their job well without shoving their personalities and views down the listeners throats.

some stations have medical phone ins with doctors , psychiatrists and specialists at hand , the sheer misery , desperation and helplessness of some of the callers is upsetting at times. the thais really are left stranded to deal with their problems.

counselling ? social services? financial help? forget it.

other bangkok radio stations......

87.5 Parliament Radio Station News Thai The Parliament

88.0 Radio No Problem Thai / Pop Thai

88.5 Z FM Thai / Pop Thai

89.0 Fashion Radio Thai / Hits Thai

89.5 Sweet FM Thai & Intr. / Soft Thai

90.0 Look Thung FM Thai / Country Thai

90.5 Nation Radio Network News Thai Nation

91.0 Sor Por 91 Traffic Report Thai

91.5 HotWave Thai / Pop Thai

92.0 Outside school learning Education Thai

92.5 Radio Thailand News & Community Service Thai Public Radio Dept.

93.0 Radio Relax Thai / Pop Thai

93.5 Radio Vote Sattelite Thai / Pop Thai A-Time

94.0 Army Radio News Thai Thai Army

94.5 Love FM International / Soft Eng

95.5 FMX International / Hits Eng

96.0 Thai Social Radio News & Community Service Thai Pacific

96.5 Dance FM International / Dance Thai

97.0 Trinity Radio Variety Thai Trinity

97 J-Pop (Sun 13:00-16:00) Japanese / Pop Thai

98.0 Amazing Wave International Thai / Eng

98.5 International / Oldies

99.0 Sport Radio Sport News Thai

99.5 People 2000 Thai / Soft Thai Media Plus

100.0 Jor Sor 100 Traffic Report Thai Pacific

100.5 Thai

101.0 News & Talk FM News Thai Meida Plus

101.5 Chula Radio Variety Thai Chulalongkorn U.

102.5 Star FM International / Hits Thai

103.5 Love FM Thai / Soft Thai

104.0 Instrumental

104.5 FM Thai / Hits Thai BNT

105.0 Smooth FM International / Soft Eng

105.5 Easy FM International / Soft Eng

106.0 Metropolis

106.5 Green Wave Thai / Soft Thai

107.0 Soft FM International / Soft Thai

for levels of intelligence the radio beats television every time , and it's certainly improving my understanding of spoken thai and the thai psyche.

[Felix Lynn]

wow! thanks for that. anytime you want to leave an overview of Thai talk radio on our listener comment line, that would be great. very informative! and i think of interest to our listeners both here and abroad. thanks! 02-207-2677

[FreedomDude]

the thais who phone in with their comments come from a wide range of backgrounds and their views seem tolerant and well balanced , with very little of the  "jail 'em , hang 'em" views that you would certainly get on uk shows.

most respondants seem very well informed , and the presenters /moderators do their job well without shoving their personalities and views down the listeners throats.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's very interesting. Since most of us don't speak Thai, this is a side of Thai culture we can't soak in. Thanks for sharing this info.

[Totster]

I used to listen to James Whale late at night on Five Live (I think), it was a long while ago, but it was bloody funny and pretty brutal at times... 100% entertainment

totster

[FreedomDude]

I find Air America equally as bad as Rush Limbaugh/Sean Hannity. At first, I was excited to have an alternative to the constant right-wing talkfests in our radio market here, but I soon discovered they were just as bad with their conspiracy theories, complete lack of respect for any opinion other than their own, and one-sided callers just engaging in one giant butt-kissing fest.

[britmaveric]

Normally follow Political Talk radio - more of a laff - definitely not serious following, but interesting to see what loons call in and say.

[cobra]

Talk radio as a paying media format got it's real start as a late night alternative, shift workers, long haul truck drivers,

Who doesn't love to hear a story about some rednecks getting probed on a saucer or Illuminati conspiracy stories,

Art Bell, was a pioneer out in the desert and has everyone from psychics to aliens on his show, now of course the format is much more serious and commercial, half the dial in filled with Talk Radio, but just how much Rush Limbaugh can you take ...

[Felix Lynn]

Talk radio as a paying media format got it's real start as a late night alternative, shift workers, long haul truck drivers, 

Who doesn't love to hear a story about some rednecks getting probed on a saucer or Illuminati conspiracy stories, 

Art Bell, was a pioneer out in the desert and has everyone from psychics to aliens on his show,  now of course the format is much more serious and commercial, half the dial in filled with Talk Radio, but just how much Rush Limbaugh can you take ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

exactly! how much of any one thing can you take? i don't like butt kissing radio either and think it's far more compelling when a caller takes a contrary position and some healthy banter takes place. in a lot of ways it's like a live forum discussion.