Modern telecommunications in Thailand began in 1875 with the deployment of the first telegraph service. Historically, the development of telecommunication networks in Thailand were in the hands of the public sector. Government organisations were established to provide telegraph, telephone, radio, and television services, and other government agencies, especially the military, still control a large estate of radio and television spectra. Private telecommunication operators initially acquired concession agreements with state enterprises. For mobile phone services, all the concessions have been amended by successive government to last 25 years have gradually ended in 2015. For other services, the concession terms and conditions vary, ranging from one to fifteen years. Nearly all of the concessions are build-operate-transfer (BTO) contracts. The private investor has to build all the required facilities and transfer them to the state before they can operate or offer services to public.
Channel 7 or Channel 7 HD, fully known as Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited Channel 7, is a Thai privately-owned free-to-air television network that was launched on 27 November 1967. It is the first colour television broadcast in Mainland Southeast Asia. It is currently owned by Bangkok Broadcasting & Television. It is headquartered in Mo Chit, Chatuchak, Bangkok.
Thailand has a well-developed mass media sector, especially by Southeast Asian standards. The Thai government and the military have long exercised considerable control, especially over radio and TV stations. During the governments of Thaksin Shinawatra and the subsequent military-run administration after the 2006 coup and military coup of 2014, the media in Thailand—both domestic and foreign—have suffered from increasing restrictions and censorship, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt.
MCOT Public Company Limited, formerly known as the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand, is a Thai state-owned public broadcaster. It owns and operates a number of radio and television stations in Thailand. It is based in Bangkok.
The Global Buddhist Network (GBN), previously known as the Dhammakaya Media Channel (DMC) is a Thai online television channel concerned with Buddhism. The channel's taglines were "The secrets of life revealed" and "The only one", but these were later replaced by "Channel for the path to the cessation of suffering and attainment of Dhamma". The channel features many types of programs with Buddhist content, and has programs in several languages.
The Thai Public Broadcasting Service, or Thai PBS, is a public broadcasting service in Thailand. It was established by the Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act, BE 2551 (2008), which came into force on 15 January 2008. Under this act, Thai PBS holds the status of state agency with legal personality, but is not a government agency or state enterprise.
BEC World Public Company Limited, doing business as BEC World, is a Thai media conglomerate, best known as the operator of television Channel 3. It was founded in 1990 and listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 1995, though the group began doing business in 1967 as Bangkok Entertainment Co., Ltd., now a subsidiary. The business was founded by Vichai Maleenont, and continues to be majorly owned by the Maleenont family, though the company underwent major restructuring in the 2010s in response to major losses following landscape changes in the broadcast industry. Over time, the business gradually expanded, leading to the growth of content businesses, such as the Global Content Licensing division and the establishment of BEC Studio and BEC Music.
Channel 3 HD is a Thailand and Bangkok's first commercial free-to-air television network that was launched on 26 March 1970 as Thailand and Bangkok's first commercial television station. Channel 3 is operated by BEC Multimedia Company Limited ("BECM") a subsidiary of publicly traded company BEC World. The network is headquartered in the Maleenont Tower of Bangkok. Its slogan is คุ้มค่าทุกนาที ดูทีวีสีช่อง 3.
National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) is the public broadcasting arm of the Government Public Relations Department (PRD), a division of the Thai Government. It operates comprehensive media services comprising radio, public television networks, online services and social media.
The digital terrestrial television system was launched in Thailand in 2014. it employs DVB-T2 as its digital encoding standard.
PPTV, also known as PPTV HD and PPTV HD 36, an acronym for Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth TeleVision) is a digital terrestrial television channel in Thailand, owned by Bangkok Media & Broadcasting Co., Ltd., a company managed by Prasarttong-Osoth, Bangkok Airways and Bangkok Hospital group owner, Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth.
Television Pool of Thailand is an organization established by Thai TV Channel 3, Royal Thai Army (RTA) Radio and Television Channel 5, BBTV Channel 7 and Channel 9 MCOT HD on 20 December 1968 to collaborate on live coverage of special events such as royal events, governmental events and addresses and sport games such as Olympic Games, Asian Games, SEA Games, and FIFA World Cup.
Thairath TV is a digital terrestrial television channel owned by Triple V Broadcast Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the news publisher, Thairath, which was owned by Vacharaphol Co., Ltd., launched in April 2014 after they won a digital television broadcast license.
TNN is a Thai satellite, cable and digital terrestrial 24-hour news channel owned by Thai News Network (TNN) Co., Ltd., a unit of TrueVisions, a subsidiary of True Corporation, part of the Charoen Pokphand Group and Telenor, presents news, documentaries and sport news.
Channel 8 is a Thai digital television channel that broadcasts entertainment, foreign TV series, and sports. It is owned and operated by RS Multimedia Company Limited. The channel is based in Bangkok, Thailand, where it is available on both C and KU bands. Channel 8 broadcasts popular events such as HBO World Championship Boxing plus domestic and self-produced programs.
Amarin TV, fully known as Amarin TV 34 HD, is a Thai digital terrestrial television channel operated by Amarin Television Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Amarin Corporations PCL, which is an affiliate of the TCC Group. The networks offers a variety of content such as news, entertainment lifestyle, food and variety programs. It was also one of the broadcasting companies which was granted a license to operate on digital television by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission in December 2013.
JKN Global Group Public Company Limited is a Thai multinational conglomerate founded by Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip. Its headquarters are in the JKN Empire building in Samut Prakan, Thailand. It comprises numerous businesses in various industries of foods, beverages, content distribution, cosmetics, health products, home shopping, energy drinks, entertainment, events, film, mass media, personal care, television advertisements, and television programs.
TV24 or Asia Update is an online news television channel in Thailand, associated with the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship and the Red Shirt movement. In the past, it was a cable and satellite news television channel. It was owned by Democracy News Network Co., Ltd.
