Military eases gag on TV and radio outlets

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AFTER COUP
Military eases gag on TV and radio outlets
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Back on Thailand's screens are 333 satellite TV channels, 211 pay TV channels and 24 IPTV channels, six analog free TV channels and 23 digital TV channels - after they were suspended by the military coup.

According to National Broadcasting and Telecommu-nications Commission (NBTC) secretary general Takorn Tantasit, that leaves only 98 satellite TV channel operators waiting for approval from the NBTC and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to resume operations.

Their broadcasting future depends on whether they change their content from a heavy focus on provocative political issues and advertising with exaggerated claims of product quality, he said.

Meanwhile, 13 satellite TV channels and the digital Voice TV channel remain banned from May 22 by an NCPO order.

"They will be allowed to resume their operations when the situation in Thailand gets better - and if they change their programme content to focus on non-political issues," Colonel Pirat Banjongkhian, director of the military technology centre of the Royal Thai Army headquarters, said.

He said the NCPO would not take into consideration the ownership of Voice TV when deciding whether to allow it to resume operating.

Voice TV is owned by the Shinawatra family.

Yesterday, the NBTC and Pirat - as a representative of the NCPO - held a press conference on the status of all TV and radio broadcasting nationwide.

For radio broadcasting, Takorn said 7,300 radio stations were banned by the NCPO order.

Out of the 7,300 radio stations, 4,300 were community radio stations and 3,000 illegal radio stations operating without licences.

Takorn said the NBTC was now considering resumption of radio issues as the next step following deals with television.

Meanwhile, a community radio group, which claims 315 community radio stations as members nationwide, yesterday submitted a letter to the NBTC to consider resuming their operations.

It said the NBTC should lift restrictions on the non-political content of radio stations which were never involved with any political issues.

It complained the suspended operations had affected their revenue and left jobs insecure since the NCPO order of May 22.

-- The Nation 2014-06-04

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[BSJ]

"and 3,000 illegal radio stations operating without licences." One would think they should be shut down permanently.

[Somtamnication]

My two local English language stations must be losing tons of money over this.

[wandasloan]

"and 3,000 illegal radio stations operating without licences." One would think they should be shut down permanently.

Well, on the other hand, in a country where the law specifically bans licensing for newspapers and magazines, why should an unlicensed radio station be "illegal" automatically?

Radio broadcasts need regulating for good reason - basically to prevent any kind of interference with each other and to assure the public airwaves are used in the public interest. But they are. These 3,000 stations never interfered with other traffic and never were accused for a New York microsecond of misplacing the public's trust or interest. So why are they "illegal"? Well, because some puffed up man with a large hat size because of his swelled head has a gun. No other reason.

In no way, in any decent society, do they need government permission just to broadcast. It is slimy, unjustified and insupportable censorship to even believe otherwise, let alone to carry it out at gunpoint as has always been done in Thailand - and in almost all other countries in the world.

This is right up there with "if Aspirin were invented today it would be a controlled substance". Which it would be, without doubt. Why? And why are radio stations licensed like they were.... beauty salons or plumbing firms?

.

[noitom]

The Thai military dictatorship is easing the "gag" on selective media outlets. This is good news. When seeing this word "gag," it always conjures up the news of criminals binding and "gaging" their victims. Maybe the Thai press should say "eases restrictions" rather than eases "gag."

[wandasloan]

The Thai military dictatorship is easing the "gag" on selective media outlets. This is good news. When seeing this word "gag," it always conjures up the news of criminals binding and "gaging" their victims. Maybe the Thai press should say "eases restrictions" rather than eases "gag."

What do you object to? "Binding"? "Selective"? The verb gag and the gerund gagging seem 101% spot-on to me.

.

[NongKhaiKid]

Can anyone suggest why True Visions was prevented from showing international news channels but cable services were not ?

i can only think that because true operates from Bkk it was easy to control them as opposed to chasing up cable services all over the country.

Ironically while I couldn't get BBC World TV on True I did get BBC World Service on True radio

[chainarong]

I don't agree with all these radio, Tv stations classified as commercial and run by political orientated personal , political parties should not have access to these out-lets unless paid for and campaign spending figures submitted to the EC along with checks and balances, as for the international cable carries being blocked out , I think there is good reasons to suspect more was happening than what we have been told, until I am shown otherwise ,I hold the belief they had something to hide.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Yeah, I really missed The Wiggles and B1 -B2

[Saan]

I can't understand why I have been able to watch a range of overseas news channels on WETV from about four days after the coup while my neighbor, who has True, only got his news channels back yesterday. Does anyone know the reason for this?

[bigbamboo]

To paraphrase The Boss ( that's Springsteen not Thakseen) I make that about 557 channels and nothing on.

[wandasloan]

I can't understand why I have been able to watch a range of overseas news channels on WETV from about four days after the coup while my neighbor, who has True, only got his news channels back yesterday. Does anyone know the reason for this?

It is very strange, especially given that Thailand has both a domestic and worldwide fame as the country where everything down to the most minute detail is organised with total precision. The Thais trained Germans in exactitude, after all. It is almost incomprehensible how they would get something like this wrong when it is so vitally important to the future of the country.

To put it another way, Hanlon's Razor.

.

[howto]

@wandasloan

"...why should an unlicensed radio station be "illegal" automatically?"

"Radio broadcasts need regulating for good reason - basically to prevent any kind of interference with each other and to assure the public airwaves are used in the public interest.

But they are. These 3,000 stations never interfered with other traffic"

You are incorrect.

"Most" every country in the worls requires a licence,

further...

the 'techs' whom maintain the equipment must be certified.

In the USA, I was certified with FCC class1, 2, and 3, in 1976.

With a class 3 cert, one may work on the antenna and broadcast amps + the other equipment.

This applies to HAM operators also.

In Thailand much the same.

However here, even walki-talkies must be licensed.

There is much more 'interference' than one may know about.

Radio signals can and do affect other airwaves.

Example: ADSL, can be affected by radiowave interference.

Here in Pathumtani, there are (were) two illegal stations which interfered with my ALSL,

Easily seen with the proper tools,

effects the bit-loading in some of the tone groups.

Note, all wires become an antenna and are susceptible to RFI, ESD, EMP.

Example: In 1988, at my home in Atlanta, I was getting a bleed from a local radio station on the tele.

A small filter fixed that problem.

Just the tip of an iceberg.

Has nothing to do with...

"some puffed up man with a large hat size because of his swelled head has a gun"

[wandasloan]

@wandasloan

"...why should an unlicensed radio station be "illegal" automatically?"

"Radio broadcasts need regulating for good reason - basically to prevent any kind of interference with each other and to assure the public airwaves are used in the public interest.

But they are. These 3,000 stations never interfered with other traffic"

You are incorrect.

"Most" every country in the worls requires a licence,

Sigh. Read my post next time before replying. What you wrote is simply what I wrote. Most countries require a license. Also, radio stations need regulating for many technical reasons.

You are only being disagreeable instead of disagreeing. In the above, and in your technical discussion, you don't disagree with a word that I wrote.

Also. May I suggest you reply by clicking the Quote button so that what you quote and what you write are clearly separate? I definitely don't want to mix my writing with your writing.

Just the tip of an iceberg.

Has nothing to do with...

"some puffed up man with a large hat size because of his swelled head has a gun"

And finally, the disagreeing part.

You are quite wrong. The closing of 3,000 radio stations in Thailand in the past 10 days has nothing to with anything BUT such a man. He has no interest in regulating these stations by your standards (and mine, as I wrote and you copied). His only interest, his only order and his only actions were in shuttering them.

Or do you have some other explanation for why 3,000 radio stations were suddenly no longer heard that doesn't include a coup d'etat and a military junta chief?

.

[tx22cb]

My True channels were back yesterday.

However, my Memorial Golf programme was interrupted with a Military propoganda broadcast at a crucial stage - so they can mess about with the media whenever they like.

All channels have the Coup logo in the corner still .... but thank the lord for small mercies.

[Crushdepth]

"and 3,000 illegal radio stations operating without licences." One would think they should be shut down permanently.

Yes, but this is the land of bending the rules and a lot of them provide useful services. Government agencies often work with (and provide technical support!) such illegal stations on various education and extension projects.

[SinCityGr8One]

"and advertising with exaggerated claims of product quality"? WHAT ????? Does that mean, that Year's supply of slim-down coffee I bought, that will enable me to loose 40 Kg won't work??? Or the MaXXX-Super capsules won't turn me into a Raging Bull that those sexy ladies on the infomercial said the capsules would do ??? Or ALL the other useless junk that was advertised on all them satellite channels is just a waste of money ??? Ha Ha Ha!!! No Truth in Advertising Laws in the Kingdom yet? Me thinks that they are just around the corner, however!

[fab4]

My True channels were back yesterday.

However, my Memorial Golf programme was interrupted with a Military propoganda broadcast at a crucial stage - so they can mess about with the media whenever they like.

All channels have the Coup logo in the corner still .... but thank the lord for small mercies.

There are crucial stages in golf programs ?

[Mudcrab]

"and 3,000 illegal radio stations operating without licences." One would think they should be shut down permanently.

Well, on the other hand, in a country where the law specifically bans licensing for newspapers and magazines, why should an unlicensed radio station be "illegal" automatically?

Radio broadcasts need regulating for good reason - basically to prevent any kind of interference with each other and to assure the public airwaves are used in the public interest. But they are. These 3,000 stations never interfered with other traffic and never were accused for a New York microsecond of misplacing the public's trust or interest. So why are they "illegal"? Well, because some puffed up man with a large hat size because of his swelled head has a gun. No other reason.

In no way, in any decent society, do they need government permission just to broadcast. It is slimy, unjustified and insupportable censorship to even believe otherwise, let alone to carry it out at gunpoint as has always been done in Thailand - and in almost all other countries in the world.

This is right up there with "if Aspirin were invented today it would be a controlled substance". Which it would be, without doubt. Why? And why are radio stations licensed like they were.... beauty salons or plumbing firms?

.

To maintain standards. Do you want a dodgy plumber gassing you because he doesn't know the rules?

[tx22cb]

My True channels were back yesterday.

However, my Memorial Golf programme was interrupted with a Military propoganda broadcast at a crucial stage - so they can mess about with the media whenever they like.

All channels have the Coup logo in the corner still .... but thank the lord for small mercies.

There are crucial stages in golf programs ?

Over a 4-day golf tournament, there are as many "crucial stages" as there are in a 5-day cricket test.

OK, OK I admit it - perhaps I exaggerated a bit!

[issanaus]

Freedom of speech should not mean freedom of responsibility - but how many times have we seen the truth coming second to political agendas on this forum.

Does anyone seriously believe that if there had been no controls put in place that there would not have been more suffering experienced by Thai people. Prior to the coup there had been increasingly strident statements and a rising death count to go with it. The military government had loosen the controls and every indication is that this process will continue.

[Dah fahrang]

So, is BBC World News and CNN back on True, yet?

Heaven forbid. There's a lot more to report than the shenanigans in Thailand.

I want to watch WORLD events. ie: the big world outside of this microcosm.

[pmugghc]

So, is BBC World News and CNN back on True, yet?

Heaven forbid. There's a lot more to report than the shenanigans in Thailand.

I want to watch WORLD events. ie: the big world outside of this microcosm.

Yes since a few days.