Launch of 24 Hour English News Channel in Thailand

When I first came to Thailand it was very difficult to get much news about the country in the English language.  That all changed with the launch of Thailand Outlook Channel a few years back. For the first time we were getting English language news and variety programmes on cable television. They then re-branded under the Thai-ASEAN News (TAN) Network and can now be found on True Visions Channel 78. They became far more serious with news content  and they started to live up to their slogan of being “Thailand’s first and only 24 hour English news channel”. However, they now have competition in the form of ASEAN TV which also broadcasts on True Visions on Channel 99.

ASEAN TV have been around for nearly two years as a project of MCOT. In April 2011 they joined with Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and The Nation and started to produce three hours of original news and analysis per day from Monday to Friday. 21st June 2011 saw the official launch of ASEAN TV where they announced that they will now be producing 6 hours of air time per day. 75% of time slot will be allocated to 9 news and news talk programs while another 25% of time slot allocated to documentary programs, socio-cultural programs, travelling programs as well as programs on food and beverages.

Asean News Room: offering news on ASEAN member countries from The Nation News Room and ANN (Monday – Friday at 7.00-8.00 a.m. and 9.00-10.30 p.m.)
Asean Business Report: Economics and Monetary News, Stocks reports from dominant stock markets in Asia (Mon-Fri 12.00 a.m.- 1p.m.)
Asean TV News: 1.5 hours daily providing updated news (Mon-Sun 1 – 1.30 p.m., 5-5.30 p.m., 8-8.30 pm)
Asean Talk: Conversation with Important figures in policy making from various countries in ASEAN (Mon-Fri 8-9.30 p.m.)
Hourly News Update: Monday–Sunday at 09.00 a.m., 10.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m., 12.00 a.m., 2  p.m. , 3  p.m. and 5  p.m.

Mekong sub region (Series): Offering new changes in Mekong sub region on Friday at 10.00-11.00 p.m.
Towards 2015: Each countries preparation to become ASEAN community in 2015. Wednesday-Thursday at 10.00 p.m. -11.00 p.m.
INSIDE ASIA: Offering current situation and interesting figures every Friday at 7.00-8.00 p.m. hosted by Thanong Khantong, and Kavi Chongkittavorn
VIEWPOINT: Stories and viewpoints of celebrities from all over the world by Veenarat Laohapakakul on Thursdays 7.00 p.m. -8 p.m.

9 Entertainment programs  consist of :

Panorama series every Monday-Friday at 10-11 am.
Asean  Documentaries every Monday-Friday at 5.30-6 pm and
Nation documentaries Monday-Friday at 7-8 pm
Healthy Flavor: Healthy Food program offering healthy food option every Saturady at 9.30-10.00 am
Live the Life: Teenage backpacking traveling program to various countries in ASEAN every Sunday at 9.30-10 am
THIS IS THAILAND: introducing travel destinations and community tradition in Thailand every Saturday at 9-9.30 am
POP ASEAN: introducing cultures from various ASEAN countries every Monday at 11.00-11.30 pm
Art Connection: takes you to Art Galleries all over ASEAN countries every Tuesday at 11-11.30 am
Design Asian: introducing creative decoration ideas every Wednesday-Friday at 11.00-11.30 pm

In the run-up to the Thai national elections, ASEAN TV have regular programming covering election news. On election day they will be reporting live from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. which will be the first English news coverage of a Thai Election. In October, MCOT and NBC will increase production to 8-10 hours daily. ASEAN TV broadcasts via THAICOM 5 satellite. You can watch on True Visions 99, PSI Channel 88 and also on the MCOT iPhone app. It should also be possible to pick up the signals on four continents around the world.