Popular psychiatrist quits channel 3, citing disgust over end of 'nua mek 2'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Showing his disgust at TV Channel 3's decision to cut short its "Nua Mek 2" drama series, which allegedly parodied "people in power", popular psychiatrist Kampanart Tansithabudhkun has given up his long-running late-night sex counselling show on the same channel.

"To neither be a hypocrite, hosting the show while criticising the channel, nor be false and shameless like someone in that society and in that television station, I have decided to quit the show, despite hosting it for 10 years," he said on his Facebook page, which attracted many likes and has been shared widely.

The sex guru of "Choo Rak Choo Ros" (Spicing Up Love, Spicing Up Gratification) said he found the management's decision to pull "Nua Mek 2" unacceptable, saying they were a "disgrace" as members of the media, following several issues with this station.

"They also have excuses for all the bad things just to maintain the station's profits," he said.

Kampanart also vowed to delete his programmes or episodes uploaded on YouTube associated with Channel 3, and asked viewers to watch videos broadcast on other television channels.

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the Green Politics group, issued an open letter condemning a statement by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission that "Nua Mek" 2's content violated regulations regarding morality, saying the script had shown the bad side of corrupt politicians while encouraging the public to do good.

A villain in "Nua Mek 2", a senior investigator running an agency called TSI, may have irritated the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which now sides with the Yingluck Shinawatra government and is looking into an allegation that extension of Channel 3's concession might be illegal.

The regulator should give a clear answer on this and treat it as a case study to prevent a recurrence, he said.

The Democrat Party has called on the NBTC to publicly verify Channel 3's statement, given verbally to the NBTC at a hearing last Saturday, saying it dropped the final three episodes of "Nua Mek 2" because its content incite public disorder, which may lead to a revolt or violate moral standards, as stipulated in Article 37 of the Broadcasting Act.

Democrat MP Ong-art Klampaiboon dismissed a statement by government spokesman Thossaphorn Serirak that Channel 3 and the producers had plotted to stir up things to pump up the audience ratings of "Nua Mek 2".

-- The Nation 2013-01-07

Political fracas after Thai soap axed

BANGKOK, Jan 7, 2013 (AFP) - A Thai soap opera has become the latest victim of the country's bitter divisions, the opposition party said on Sunday, claiming the prime-time show was axed after "political interference".

Drama "Nuer Mek 2" (Above the Clouds) was abruptly pulled off air by privately-owned broadcaster Channel 3 on Friday because of "inappropriate contents", sparking a flurry of protest on social media as the government denied claims it was behind the decision.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut of the opposition Democrat party called for an investigation into the cancellation, suggesting that the programme was "banned because of its themes of corruption".

"There was political interference," he told AFP.

Thailand has been racked with sometimes violent political divisions since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a 2006 coup.

The former premier, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, is widely believed to retain sweeping influence over the country's ruling Puea Thai party.

Government spokesman Tosaporn Sereerak said there had been no effort to influence the broadcaster, adding that he had not found the content upsetting.

"I watched it a couple of times. It was about black magic as well as politics and even though I am a politician, I didn't feel abused by it," he said.

Almost 40,000 people have liked a Facebook page calling for the series -- which was due to run until Sunday -- to be returned to television screens.

No one from Channel 3 was available for comment.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-01-07

And this is News

And this is News

Sadly I suspect a high percentage of the population take more interest in this than anything that you would consider newsworthy.

Hence the need for censorship.

As the people you are refering to mostly do not speak Thai doubtful he would broadcast from those locations

I think this is news, or at least the deeper issue it represents.... corruption and control of the media by the state. If this sort of thing starts to happen more often, we might actually see some positive change.... however slight.

And this is News

I would say so; what better way to educate the massess on the reality of corruption by highlighting it in a soap opera? Probably more effective than any news show etc.

At least this guy is showing some gumption.

This quite obviously is driving everyone nuts

Wow, big thumbs up to Kampanart Tansithabudhkun . . . finally a Thai that is not afraid to stand up, criticise the establishment and do what he feels is "right".

Wow, big thumbs up to Kampanart Tansithabudhkun . . . finally a Thai that is not afraid to stand up, criticise the establishment and do what he feels is "right".

That depends on whether he wasn't doing too well with his show's viewer figures, had a personal conflict with his boss, has a new job lined up or wants to advertise himself for a new role.

I thought his comments went a bit beyond just leaving his role on principle.

But then again, I'm no psychologist!

Wow, big thumbs up to Kampanart Tansithabudhkun . . . finally a Thai that is not afraid to stand up, criticise the establishment and do what he feels is "right".

That depends on whether he wasn't doing too well with his show's viewer figures, had a personal conflict with his boss, has a new job lined up or wants to advertise himself for a new role.

I thought his comments went a bit beyond just leaving his role on principle.

But then again, I'm no psychologist!

Who knows . . . I just took my "cynical" hat off for a few minutes and took it all at face value

This is quite an interesting development. Maybe ASTV should get into the soap opera business. Now that would be great viewing.

AFP got it wrong by calling it a political fracas, this is public discontent with media manipulation. Corruption is "multidenominational" and lampooning is the way people vent their frustration. The AFP should be asking why the show was pulled, by whom, for what purpose if it wasn't related to poor ratings, law breaking, etc., not broadly painting the issue with the political brush. The public at large should ask why is a soap opera more accurately reflecting reality than the news they are getting and voice their concern with the relevant authorities. If the airing of dirty laundry in the house sessions doesn't incite violence, its hard to imagine how a soap opera could, unless they referred to a huge scandal that could bring down a...........!

Wow, big thumbs up to Kampanart Tansithabudhkun . . . finally a Thai that is not afraid to stand up, criticise the establishment and do what he feels is "right".

That depends on whether he wasn't doing too well with his show's viewer figures, had a personal conflict with his boss, has a new job lined up or wants to advertise himself for a new role.

I thought his comments went a bit beyond just leaving his role on principle.

But then again, I'm no psychologist!

Who knows . . . I just took my "cynical" hat off for a few minutes and took it all at face value

Maybe I should take mine off every now and then!

AFP got it wrong by calling it a political fracas, this is public discontent with media manipulation. Corruption is "multidenominational" and lampooning is the way people vent their frustration. The AFP should be asking why the show was pulled, by whom, for what purpose if it wasn't related to poor ratings, law breaking, etc., not broadly painting the issue with the political brush. The public at large should ask why is a soap opera more accurately reflecting reality than the news they are getting and voice their concern with the relevant authorities. If the airing of dirty laundry in the house sessions doesn't incite violence, its hard to imagine how a soap opera could, unless they referred to a huge scandal that could bring down a...........!

Yes. A soap opera with a story line reflecting reality is unusual for Thai TV. The last time it happened it was about Thai air hostesses - again too close to the bone.

Strong-arm ruling parties don't like being parodied.

Yes. A soap opera with a story line reflecting reality is unusual for Thai TV. The last time it happened it was about Thai air hostesses - again too close to the bone.

Agree. I have been thinking the same thing. Most realistic show on Thai TV since Woody Woodpecker, even including the black magic! No wonder it's scandalous.

Couldn't they just put one of those grey blobs on the screen when a corrupt politician appears like they do when someone has a cigarette?

Political assassination is currently, and tacitly agreed to be unacceptable here, as it has been for ~ 60+ years. Assassination for money, love and in some rare cases, revenge, is allowed, no more can be said without violating TV's ToS. This TV drama appears to have ended with a fictional PM being assassinated, which was probably only revealed recently, hence the abrupt cancellation.

And this is News

Yeah, I'd definitely call it news when people are accusing the Thai government of censoring a TV show that's parodies that government.

Couldn't they just put one of those grey blobs on the screen when a corrupt politician appears like they do when someone has a cigarette?

Do you mean Plodprasop?

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