Satellite Thai TV stations agree to end politicised reporting of news

[webfact]

AFTER COUP
Satellite TV stations agree to end politicised reporting of news
Kris Bhromsuthi
Pravit Rojanaphruk
Usanee Mongkolporn
THE NATION

Many will also change their name to end memories of conflict, division

BANGKOK: -- TWELVE satellite TV channels have been allowed by the junta to start broadcasting again next week - after signing agreements to de-politicise their content. The channels have been off the air since the May 22 coup.

Some of the channels are well-known political-oriented satellite stations, such as the yellow-shirt ASTV, Democrat Party-backed Blue Sky and red-shirt Asia Update, said they were satisfied by the terms and conditions laid down by the junta.

Most of them even agreed to change their name in a move to end memories about their role in provoking political conflict or national division.

The channels allowed to start broadcasting also include MV5, DNN, UDD, P&P, 4 Channel, FMTV, Hot TV, Rescue TV and Student and People Network for Reforming Thailand Channel.

ASTV, which will now be known as News TV, still plans to focus intensely on news, but there will be some adjustments as per their agreement with the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), ASTV's programme adviser Panthep Puapongpan said.

The channel is allowed to criticise the NCPO and the government, provided the criticism is based on facts and information, he said. The channel will also cover other subjects like health instead of just politics. In addition, he said, there would also be a new programme on the ongoing reforms, which aims to contribute useful ideas in important areas such as energy, education and politics.

Takerng Somsup, director of Fah Wun Mai (formerly Blue Sky), said his channel would broadcast food shows, as well as documentaries in order to fill the space left by programmes that won't be shown any longer.

The channel will also broadcast a show on reforms, in which competitors will get to offer the best ideas, he said.

Takerng said the channel's reporting style would be adjusted to comply with NCPO's framework. He added that it would also avoid directly criticising the NCPO, the government or political opponents, and focus instead on reporting facts and information.

"The mood of the country has changed. Nobody wants to hear destructive remarks or comments any more. They want to hear about reform and reconciliation," he said.

Warut Thunhasukont, managing director of pro-red-shirt Asia Update TV station - now been named Open TV, welcomed the chance to go back on air again.

He said the station would comply with the agreement to not present news or shows that deepen the divide in society.

When asked how the station could properly report or analyse politics when such national politics is essentially about conflict, Warut acknowledged the difficulty, but said his station would observe other channels to see how they go about covering politics.

"It's difficult to present political news without touching on ongoing conflicts," he said. Asked if the station would focus on junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Warut said the focus would be on scrutinising the government as a whole, not Prayuth in particular.

The broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecom-munications Commission yesterday announced conditions for the 12 satellite TV channels to apply for a new licence to resume broadcasting next week.

The channels will need to apply for a new licence as Pay TV and comply with the NCPO's condition that they would broadcast no content that affects national security and the social divide by signing a memorandum of understand with the NBTC.

Natee Sukonrat, chairman of NBTC's broadcasting committee, said all the channels will be granted a new licence under the new name before going on air.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Satellite-TV-stations-agree-to-end-politicised-rep-30241791.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-26

[BudRight]

Yeah, like no one can figure out that 'Fah Wun Mai' was formerly Blue Sky. It's about as confusing as Thai-Rak-Thai-> Peua Thai.

[StefanBBK]

Best would be just reporting facts, without any interpretation.

[Cats4ever]

Perhaps this idea could be copied in Oz, USA & Europe?

[MediaWatcher]

Cats4ever, on 26 Aug 2014 - 12:22, said:

Perhaps this idea could be copied in Oz, USA & Europe?

Oh yes, let's stop free speak and only report what the dictator wants us to hear. How long do you think a station will stay open even if they report critically, with facts? One must tow the line or as the Daleks (from Dr Who) would say.... you must obey.... you must obey.....exterminate... exterminate.

[useronthenet]

The Junta sounds like the Borg (in Star-Trek), "resistance is futile" !

[sanuk711]

Perhaps this idea could be copied in Oz, USA & Europe?

You mean change the name of Fox = Fair & balanced ....................surly not

[PHP87]

Perhaps this idea could be copied in Oz, USA & Europe?

You mean change the name of Fox = Fair & balanced ....................surly not

Fox has 19 Liberal/Progressives on their channel. How many Conservatives do all of the other American news channels employ combined?

Also, a UCLA media study showed that 18 of the top 20 US media outlets leaned left:

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/Media-Bias-Is-Real-Finds-UCLA-6664

FNC is successful because it gives a voice to both sides, unlike the rest of the US media which is struggling.

FNC is merely filling a void and people are tuning in, unlike CNN, MSNBC and the rest of the media which is struggling.

[rickirs]

"The channel is allowed to criticise the NCPO and the government, provided the criticism is based on facts and information..."

Consider these quotes:

"There are no hard distinctions between what is real and what is unreal, nor between what is true and what is false. A thing is not necessarily either true or false; it can be both true and false." - by Harold Pinter, Noble Prize in Literature, 2005.

"A truth that's told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent." - William Blake

“Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.” - by Mahatma Gandhi

Unfortunately, what proves to be a "fact" will ultimately be decided by NCPO after the fact. When "fact" proves nebulous, compliance by the stations will be very difficult. They might as well substitute cartoons for news to broadcast on the safe side.