Military Allows Free TV Back on the Air, except Thai PBS

 | Fri 23 May 2014 16:08 ICT

Update (24th May): All free TV stations including TPBS as well as international digital stations (Al Jazeera, BBC World News Channel, Channel News Asia, Fox News, Australia Network Channel, NHK World Channel) have returned to the air. Channels previously banned by Order 15/2557 ( MV5, DNN, AsiaUpdate, P&P, Four Channel, Blue Sky, FM TV, T News, ASTV, HotTV, VoiceTV, Rescue, Democracy Reform Channel and other unlicensed channels) remain banned.

CityNews The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) secretary announced that the military (National Peace and Order Maintaining Council or NPOMC) has approved the return of free TV channels 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 to the air.

Thai PBS, however, will remain off the air due to previously violating NPOMC Order 4/2557 by broadcasting their news on YouTube yesterday.

A number of international stations also remain off the air.

Thakorn Tantasit, Secretary General of the NBTC confirmed the return of the following channels:

•   Channel 3 (BEC)

•   Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5 (TV5)

•   Channel 7 (Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Co.,Ltd.)

•   Modernine TV (Channel 9, MCOT)

•   National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (TV11)

Intermittent news has already returned and gone away again, replaced by armed forces logos. However, the broadcasts are expected to come back on the air around 8pm this evening, just in time for the prime time soaps.

The following satellite and cable TV stations remain banned: MV5, DNN (Red Shirts), AsiaUpdate, P&P, Four Channel, Blue Sky (PDRC), FM TV, T News, ASTV, HotTV, VoiceTV, Rescue, Democracy Reform Channel and other unlicensed channels.

International channels also remain off the air, including: Al Jazeera, BBC World News Channel, Channel News Asia, Fox News, Australia Network Channel, NHK World Channel.

Earlier today, the military and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) held a meeting with 108 different internet service providers (ISP). Thakorn told reporters that the military have given the NBTC and the ICT the right to monitor online content, in order to eliminate any news that may “confuse society or provoke violence.

In the order, the military prohibits the ISPs from providing Internet Protocol television (IPTV). Social media sites and apps like Facebook, Line and YouTube will remain in service. The ICT will shut down any Facebook pages and YouTube channels reported inappropriate according to the militarys rules.

Side note: Lao PDR are also affected since they only have two national channels of their own. Most of their stations (including 3, 5, 7 and 9) come from Thai TV.