Two red-shirt satellite TV stations will face a 7-day broadcasting ban after regulators found they disseminated content that could create division in society.
The broadcasting committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) voted 4-1 on Monday to suspend the broadcasting licences of Peace Television Co, the operator of Peace TV (formerly UDD channel), and Democracy News Network, the operator of 24TV (formerly DNN), for seven days, starting from the day they receive written notice.
The vote was called after an NBTC subcommittee overseeing content and programme slots suggested action be taken against the two channels. The panel found some of their programmes could potentially create confusion, instigate conflicts or divisions within society.
It said such content violated the National Council for Peace and Order’s July 18, 2014 directive asking for cooperation in information dissemination to the public to restore peace.
Sombat Leelapata, the NBTC's acting deputy secretary-general, told Manager Online that security agencies earlier wrote to the regulators saying several programmes on Peace TV breached the NCPO order. Among them were three news talk programmes hosted by leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship — Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut Saikuar and Weng Tojirakarn.
Seven satellite channels, including then UDD and DNN, which broadcast political content were shut down after the May 22 coup. The broadcasting committee later allowed them to air again on Aug 27 on condition they avoid content that could cause division or affect national security. Failure to comply would result in licence revocation.