TV channels Thailand

Thai television carries the marks of its history: channels born in the army and the government press office, newsrooms grown out of newspapers, Buddhist networks and the entertainment houses of Bangkok.

The National Institutions

Channel 5 HD is the Royal Thai Army's own television channel, broadcasting continuously since 25 January 1958 - one of the oldest stations in Southeast Asia. National News Bureau is the screen of the Government Public Relations Department, and PBS TV - Thai PBS - is the public television created by the 2008 Broadcasting Act, broadcasting on the UHF frequency once held by iTV. Education has its own shelf: DLTV 1 and DLTV 2 are the distance-learning stations serving Thai schoolchildren.

The News Rooms

Thailand's news channels grew out of its press. Nation Channel - Nation TV 22 - is the television newsroom of the Nation Group, one of the country's largest media houses. Thairath TV 32 is the digital channel of the Thairath newspaper, on air since 2014. TNN 16 rolls news around the clock from Bangkok, MGROnline is the video arm of Manager Online, News1 (ASTV) serves the ASTV audience, and Channel 13 Siam Thai News and Amarin 34 HD - the television of the Amarin media group - complete the news shelf.

Entertainment and Music

Channel 8 is the national entertainment broadcaster, with drama series, variety and news from Bangkok. PPTV HD 36 carries general programming, and Workpoint TV is the screen of Workpoint Entertainment, the production house founded in 1989 that became the country's defining maker of game shows. GMM Grammy brings the music of Thailand's largest entertainment conglomerate, and Mahar Esports serves the gaming audience.

Faith Channels

Buddhist television is a strong presence: GBN - the Global Buddhist Network - is the international television arm of the Dhammakaya movement, broadcasting teaching and meditation from Wat Phra Dhammakaya, while Boonniyom TV and DDTV add further Dhamma programming. MuslimThai serves the country's Muslim community with religious and cultural shows.