Mass Media

Radio & Television
Thailand has 495 national and local radio stations, 206 on AM and 289 on EM. There are five national colour television stations in Bangkok and 8 stations in theprovinces. As of present, there are two full-time running cable networks featuring popular western programmes such as MTV and HBO, and a third cable network, at trial-stage, offering international programmes via fibre optic cables.

The Public Relations Department (PRD) is responsible for Radio Thailand (for overseas listeners) and the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) for Thai listeners. NBT is the official government broadcasting station which transmits local and international news mandatorily on all stations. Identical news is broadcast daily in nine foreign languages over Radio Thailand's External Service. Government agencies, the armed forces, state universities and the Education Ministry also operate radio stations.

AM radio appeals to popular taste, especially to rural listeners and FM radio offers popular music, classical, jazz, English-language enews-broadcasts and original soundtracks of certain foreign films shown on local television.

The television is mostly commercial and appeals to popular taste. Educational programmes,quiz shows, local soap operas and international sports programmes have enormous appeal.

The PRD’s Channel ll (in Bangkok) has a large educational content and is the parent station of stations in the provinces.

Publishing
Thai publishing is a thriving business with hundreds of news papers, magazines and paperback titles. Certain foreign bestsellers appear in Thai translations shortly after their publication abroad. International magazines with popular appeal like ELLE are proving to be popular in Thai versions.

Leading national Thai language dailies including Siam Rath and Marichoh are popular with well g educated Thais. The more popular Thai Rath and Daily News have broader appeal to the general population and are valued as much for entertainment value as journalistic standards.

Sin Sian Yit Pao is Thailand's leading Chinese-language newspaper, and The Nation (morning)and Bangkok Post (morning) serve the English-speaking community. Magazines in Thai and English appeal to a wide variety of tastes with particular focus on fashion, house-keeping, interior design, sports and business.