For the past several months we have seen English language TV stations progressively disappearing from our screens. They include France 24. DW (English), RT, BBC, and as of today, Al Jazeera, TV Asia, and Fox. What's going on? Who is responsible for this and for what purpose? Is this just censorship or is there another reason?

I guess you are writing about a cable TV network in a certain area/city?

Details could help (also for comparison).

 

For BBC I am quite certain that it is an unwanted source nowadays.

MOVED to Audio/Visual

Yes, I am in Chiang Mai

 

 

And what TV service (satellite/cable etc) are you using?

Here in Hua Hin via the local cable company (750 Baht a quarter) I have RT, France 24 and a few others but not the BBC, they removed that a few years back.

 

Here in BKK, my small local cable provider (not True) dropped BBC News a couple years back, but still have France 24, TV Asia, NHK World, and a few non-news English channels (Universal, C.I, Syfy.).

 

In my memory, don't think we've ever had DW, RT or Al Jazeera via our cable. If I want those and the BBC, I get them online.

 

In fact, the only person who uses/watches our local cable service is my Thai wife for their Thai local channels. I watch and use none of it, and instead get everything online from outside Thailand.

 

 

Who needs it. If you have a decent internet connection get this. It's free and no VPN is required. You can also timeshift.

http://uktv.webtv.to

19 minutes ago, trd said:

Who needs it. If you have a decent internet connection get this. It's free and no VPN is required. You can also timeshift.

http://uktv.webtv.to

That's not the point.

The OP has asked a specific question about his TV service.

Yes, you have suggested an alternative... but you didn't answer his question.

Post removed.

 

Keep it civil please.

It's interesting to read that BBC World News has been removed years before at certain locations. This would speak against order from the censor. Just plain uninterested in foreign/English speaking audience?

 

In Pattaya (don't ask what cable company in hotel) I know that last autumn it was there and gone in March.

I think a lot of the changes are due more to the blurring of traditional providers (terrestrial, satellite, cable) and OTT (broadband, streaming, mobile) providers, and transitions between the two, rather than nefarious reasons. Any/all providers need to censor so the "authorities" are well in control.

 

Many "channels" are streamed on Youtube, live. I often watch CNN and MSNBC from the U.S.A. this way. To me it looks like private folks are re-streaming nearly live, maybe a minute delay? The local commercials are a bit unbearable ("come on down to Dayton's largest mattress store"), as are the endless pharmaceutical ads: they even have drugs to counteract the side-effects of other drugs, re: Opioid-Induced Constipation! It is pretty easy to stream and control Youtube to a TV; I use a Chromecast and/or an Android box, or watch on a device (phone, tablet, PC).

 

Some broadband and mobile providers here offer streaming channels. AIS Fiber has a few of the OPs target channels: France 24, NHK World, Euro News, Channel News Asia in English as Free channels via their PlayBox (Android) or Android mobile app. (AIS Play). AIS also has quite a few premium packages. You can check out their website or a thread here.

 

You can run some simple APKs on an Android device (phone, tablet, box) which provide access to scads of live TV from all over the globe. These are pretty easy to install and use: channel guide, description, one-click, etc. Just do a Google or Youtube search.

 

You may be able to subscribe to streaming providers in your home country, or piggy-back on a still-resident family member's account. This may require a VPN.

 

You can use an Android TV box, with Kodi, along with the necessary Kodi add-ons, which can provider both free streaming live TV and subscription-type services.

 

There are a lot of solutions, maybe more than I'm aware of, some of which may be able to address your requirements. It will really depend on your broadband internet, home network, displays, desire, proficiency, etc.

 

 

On 4/15/2017 at 5:29 PM, trd said:

Who needs it. If you have a decent internet connection get this. It's free and no VPN is required. You can also timeshift.

http://uktv.webtv.to

Doesn't work with me.

2 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Doesn't work with me.

It took a while to download, but I now have put it on 2 computers. It is great. (True 50/20 fiber)

Here in BKK, my small local cable provider (not True) dropped BBC News a couple years back, but still have France 24, TV Asia, NHK World, and a few non-news English channels (Universal, C.I, Syfy.).
 
In my memory, don't think we've ever had DW, RT or Al Jazeera via our cable. If I want those and the BBC, I get them online.
 
In fact, the only person who uses/watches our local cable service is my Thai wife for their Thai local channels. I watch and use none of it, and instead get everything online from outside Thailand.
 
 

What is your cable provider?
My apartment management recently changed their cable TV and I can't get any English channels since then

36 minutes ago, CLW said:

What is your cable provider?
My apartment management recently changed their cable TV and I can't get any English channels since then

In my case, it's Happy Home Cable in BKK... 350 baht per month for two connections. No cable TV box or remotes. Just the cable line that goes into the CATV outlet on the back of your TV. I believe it's what they call their analog service (as opposed to digital).

 

http://en.www.cablebangkok.com/index.aspx?pid=3fc90a5a-430e-4e85-9b26-2e102399eb78

 

http://en.www.cablebangkok.com/?

 

But you know, you can't just pick any cable provider. It all depends on whether they've run their cable through your neighborhood.

 

I still think all the various/many internet-carried services are a better option. In my case, if it wasn't for the Thai wife wanting to watch her lakorns and for some reason the Universal Channel (which has EN subtitled programming), I would have ditched the cable ages ago.