Television, Satellite & Radio Stations in Thailand

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Television, Satellite & Radio Stations in Thailand

There are three main television/video standards in use throughout the world:

• NTSC - used in the USA, Canada, Japan and some other countries
• PAL - used in most of Western Europe, Australasia and South Africa
• SECAM - used in France and Eastern Europe

The three systems are not compatible with each other. It is not possible to watch television on a NTSC or SECAM appliance, or to use DVD or video players configured for these systems. Multi-standard TV, DVD or video equipment will be able to play a PAL (or NTSC) camcorder, DVD player or games console.

The television transmission standard in Thailand is PAL B. This is different to the PAL I system used in the UK, so older televisions from the UK are unlikely to work in Thailand. Older NTSC televisions from the USA will also not work in Thailand. Many newer TVs are multi-system and can accept PAL or NTSC signals. The television's user manual should include this information.

Television in Thailand

There are six terrestrial TV stations that are controlled by various government agencies, including the Royal Thai Army and MCOT. A TV licence is not needed. There are, to date, no firm plans to introduce digital broadcasting technology, although it has been investigated.

Terrestrial TV channels

The terrestrial channels broadcast predominantly in Thai. Some have small sections of English-language programming or with some TVs the language can be changed to English for certain programmes.

• Channel 3
• Channel 5 (in Thai only)
• Channel 7
• Modernine (Channel 9)
• NBT (National Broadcasting Service of Thailand): with some daily transmissions in English
• Thai PBS (Thai Public Broadcasting Service)

Cable and satellite channels

The biggest satellite TV provider is True Visions UBC, which has a large number of channels broadcasting in English available with different packages of varying costs depending on the channels chosen.

Most programmes are aired in English and a monthly program guide is sent to the subscriber's home address with a full list of channels and schedules for the month.

True Visions and many other independent companies operate cable TV channels in Bangkok. Outside of Bangkok there are hundreds of independent cable companies offering a large number of channels in a variety of languages.

True Visions has a wide selection of channels with movies, series, documentaries, music, entertainment, including BBC Entertainment, National Geographic, Star Movies, HBO, BBC World, News 24, Star Sports, TVB, Animal Planet, CNN, Bloomberg, Cartoon Network and many more.

• True Visions 
  Tel: 02 725 2525
  e-mail
  Website

To subscribe to True Visions UBC, copies of your passport and House Registration Document (Tabian Baan) or the land title (Chanote) or the Condo title deed are required. If it is a rental property the landlord has to provide copies of their ID card and House Registration Document.

Radio in Thaliand

Thailand has hundreds of AM and FM radio stations controlled and sometimes owned by various government agencies. Some are national stations that can be listened to all over Thailand but others are local to towns or provinces. Most broadcast in Thai language although Bangkok has a number of stations that broadcast in Thai and English.

At present there is a very limited digital radio service offered in Bangkok by Radio of Thailand.

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