Thaitv 3 Decision To Can ' Nua Mek 2' Probed

[webfact]

Channel 3's decision to can 'Nua Mek 2' probed

Panchat Sinsuk,

Chuleeporn Aramnet

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is looking into Channel 3's decision to pull the 'Nua Mek 2' serial abruptly off the air.

At a meeting yesterday, the NBC handed the matter to a subcommittee. It expects a report to be tabled on the controversy next week.

"Nua Mek 2" was pulled off the air last Friday, two episodes ahead of schedule, amid widespread speculation that government powerbrokers disliked the political parody.

An online survey conducted by Bansomdej Poll found that 96 per cent of 1,511 respondents did not agree with the axing of the series and 77 per cent believed the government was involved in its sudden removal.

A group of hackers, who identified themselves as "Unlimited Hack Team", broke into the Channel 3 website and posted a message asking, "Where's my Nua Mek?" yesterday evening.

The message appeared for about 15 minutes.

NBC chairman Natee Sukonrat said viewers could lodge a complaint over the series' sudden removal because their rights were violated.

Late last year, the NBC launched a probe into Channel 11 for its broadcast of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's speech as part of a boxing event in Macau.

It finally concluded that the channel did not violate any laws, but warned the service provider to exercise more caution in the future.

Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation is investigating alleged irregularities in MCOT's decision to extend its concession for Channel 3. The decision, according to the complainants, has cost the state Bt7 billion in lost revenue.

-- The Nation 2013-01-08

[Thai at Heart]

How can a tv show be forced to show something they think may break the law

[OzMick]

How can a tv show be forced to show something they think may break the law

I would have thought a synopsis of the show would have been presented to the purchaser well before airing - most likely before production started if seeking financial assistance or assured sale.

[Thai at Heart]

How can a tv show be forced to show something they think may break the law

I would have thought a synopsis of the show would have been presented to the purchaser well before airing - most likely before production started if seeking financial assistance or assured sale.

Well under the definitions they have, just about everything could be selectively banned.

[hanuman2543]

"..the political parody." Can be seen everyday on every Thai channel. The plot changes nearly everyday, but the actors are always the same.

[OzMick]

How can a tv show be forced to show something they think may break the law

I would have thought a synopsis of the show would have been presented to the purchaser well before airing - most likely before production started if seeking financial assistance or assured sale.

Well under the definitions they have, just about everything could be selectively banned.

You miss my point. If the program contained offensive content the channel would have known before airing began, possibly before production began.

[ChrisY1]

A whole lot of BS spin coming out here from the Government.....personally, I find it difficult to think that the TV station would pull something that has good ratings...they must have know the content..or is it that the TV stations here in Thailand buy productions in a "Lucky Dip" style??...Hardly.

[Thai at Heart]

How can a tv show be forced to show something they think may break the law

I would have thought a synopsis of the show would have been presented to the purchaser well before airing - most likely before production started if seeking financial assistance or assured sale.

Well under the definitions they have, just about everything could be selectively banned.

You miss my point. If the program contained offensive content the channel would have known before airing began, possibly before production began.

Virtually every shows spousal abuse, drink driving, various forms of assault with no punishment.

By their definition of being detrimental to society, nothing should pass, since it appears to condone this behaviour.

[OzMick]

I would have thought a synopsis of the show would have been presented to the purchaser well before airing - most likely before production started if seeking financial assistance or assured sale.

Well under the definitions they have, just about everything could be selectively banned.

You miss my point. If the program contained offensive content the channel would have known before airing began, possibly before production began.

Virtually every shows spousal abuse, drink driving, various forms of assault with no punishment.

By their definition of being detrimental to society, nothing should pass, since it appears to condone this behaviour.

How many have been pulled 3/4 through the series? The station's lawyers would/should look at any program before purchase/production.

[bigbamboo]

Maybe everyone is being too hard on Channel 3's self censorship.

Just as they cut out smoking on TV to encourage people not to smoke now they are cutting out political coruption on TV shows to encourage politicians not become corrupt? We wouldn't want that after Ms Yingluck told us herself there was no corruption in her government.

So jolly well done, Channel 3..... and good luck with your new license by the way.

[Will2011]

What's this tv series all about? I don't watch that sort of tv "art"...

[Lite Beer]

Rights group demands returning controversial TV series to air

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 8 – The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) was told today to order TV Channel 3 to air the controversial soap opera Nua Mek 2, suspended since last Friday.

Petitioning the NBTC, Srisuwan Chanya, secretary general of the Thai Constitution Protection Association, said banning the TV series infringed on the people’s right to information as stipulated in the constitution, The petition said the content of the show did not breach the 2008 National Broadcasting Act as claimed by Channel 3.

The group demanded that NBTC order Channel 3 to re-broadcast Nua Mek 2 in its original time slot without editing to compensate Thai viewers for its infringement.

NBTC was also told to empanel a committee to determine which parts of the series allegedly violate Article 37 of the National Broadcasting Act, and make public its decision, and take legal action against those who violate viewers’ and consumers’ rights and freedom by revoking Channel 3's licence.

He demanded that the NBTC complete its investigation of the case in seven days, and that the group will petition the Administrative Court if the NBTC fails to announce its findings.

Commission vice chairman Natee Sukonrat said an investigation will be conducted in accord with the required procedure. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-08

[webfact]

Panthongtae urges Channel 3 to resume Nua Mek 2 broadcast

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The son of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Panthongtae, Tuesday urged the Channel 3 to broadcast the final episodes of TV series, Nua Mek 2, via his Facebook message. The series, which seems to mock the Shinawatras, was pulled off air last Friday.

Panthongtae said although the series unfairly caused damages to real people who could be easily linked to the series' fictional characters, its final episodes should go on air.

-- The Nation 2013-01-08

[Skywalker69]

How can a tv show be forced to show something they think may break the law

if thats the case why start showing it in the first place?

[MunterHunter]

Panthongtae said although the series unfairly caused damages to real people who could be easily linked to the series' fictional characters, its final episodes should go on air.

... So they can sue the television station next week and use the money to fund the next rebellion protest

[slapout]

This boy may have been one of those that experts said "too much time on face book" affects the brain in a negative manner. If the reporters throw this kid into the family pool for interview/quote, they can create another mind altering source for the public.

[khunken]

Nice try Panthongtae - blame Channel 3. Why don't you have a word in the ear of those who whispered to Ch3 ' can it or else'.

[bkk_mike]

I'm just thinking - in the US, they cancel series all the time, sometimes good ones, sometimes not so good.

Things like CSI:Miami got cancelled, not because they didn't have good ratings, but because TV series get more expensive the longer they run (as the actors / writers etc. are in a position to ask for more money to stay), even good ratings don't guarantee more episodes will be made.

Cancelling a series that's apparently got good ratings, and not showing episodes that are already filmed - even in the US - that would be unusual. (There's things that sometimes don't get aired because they're controversial - the family guy abortion episode for instance - but even there, it's usually down to them worrying about advertisers or viewer complaints. Could that be the case here? Why don't they just stick the episodes on youtube - they're already filmed after all - with warnings about the content if that's the issue...)

[webfact]

NBTC may order Channel 3 to air Nua Mek 2's final episodes

Veena Thoopkrajae

Watchiranont Thongtep

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission may ask Channel 3 operator to show final episodes of "Nua Mek 2" to see whether they really breach the law as claimed by the television station, a Bangkok seminar on the controversial self-censure by the television station was told Tuesday.

At the seminar held at Chulalongkorn University’s Communication Arts Faculty, NBTC Commissioner Supinya Klangnarong said that she would propose to NBTC to request the channel to send final episodes of the "problematic" TV show to consider whether its content has violated Section 37 as cited by the TV operator.

Her proposal received a loud applaud at the seminar that participated by several hundreds of media, students and general public.

As she has voiced her opinion on social media, Supinya said she disagreed with the unnecessary use of Section 37." The NBTC had never used Section 37 to ban any media and we try not to abuse the freedom by over-exercising the law, which can create the climate of fear," she noted.

Before the conference ended, she informed the participants that Channel 3 has sent a letter of clarification on the ban. "I have just been informed but I would go and look into details. Right now, I think I will propose the board that we will have to see the final episodes screened on Channel 3."

The seminar invited academics and industry people to express their view on the "Nua Mek 2" (Above the Clouds 2) incident after the TV series was abruptly pulled from the air last Friday. Channel 3 has cited its inappropriate content and reasoned that the soap opera might breach Section 37. The action has raises a lot of questions regarding freedom and media censorship.

Suwanna Sombatraksasuk, former president of News Broadcasting Council of Thailand, said that she never watched the series but after the ban, she went and watched eight of "Nua Mek 2" episodes and didn’t find any content possibly breaching the Section 37.

Supaporn Phokaew, head of Mass Communications Department, Faculty of Communication Arts, said the ban hits hard on the freedom of audience. "We should at least have freedom to interpret what we watch on TV. If the entertainment content is banned, what the hope we have with the other truth finding in the society," she noted.

Asst Prof Grirggiat Punpiputt from Kantana Academy said the ban should not have occurred considering the TV series have been completed long before the airtime. There should have been enough time to re-edit it. "The re-editing or muting sound happened all the time in TV business. What surprise me is that there is an alternative (rather than the ban)," he said, echoing the public’s opinion on the social media that the axing of the show is rather unusual.

-- The Nation 2013-01-08

[OzMick]

Panthongtae urges Channel 3 to resume Nua Mek 2 broadcast

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The son of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Panthongtae, Tuesday urged the Channel 3 to broadcast the final episodes of TV series, Nua Mek 2, via his Facebook message. The series, which seems to mock the Shinawatras, was pulled off air last Friday.

Panthongtae said although the series unfairly caused damages to real people who could be easily linked to the series' fictional characters, its final episodes should go on air.

-- The Nation 2013-01-08

For some reason, there is a Carly Simon song playing in my head as I read this. (I bet you think this show is about you, don't you..........)