TV5 to concentrate on info shows in 2013
The Army's TV5 station will devote 70 per cent of next year's schedule to information programmes produced in-house to comply with regulations for a digital terrestrial TV broadcasting licence for public service.
Lt-General Chatchai Sarikulya, president of Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station, said yesterday that the info programmes would include news and documentaries on economic, social, culture, tourism and special issues in times of crisis, while the rest of the schedule would be for entertainment.
Airtime slots for news programmes on TV5 will be increased next year. For instance, evening news will be extended to 90 minutes from 60 minutes this year. In general, news programming accounts for 32 per cent of informational content.
TV5’s broadcasting for public service will focus on national security.
To prepare for the full launch of digital terrestrial television broadcasting, planned for next year, TV5 will launch a trial service with other state agencies – MCOT, the operator of Modernine TV, and the Public Relations Department, the operator of NBT, as well as the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission.
The Army is also constructing a Bt1.6-billion, 22-storey building on the same grounds as the TV5 and Thai Global Network stations. When this tower is completed and begins operating by late next year, it will add 12 digital broadcasting studios to the existing four studios.
“So we will be ready to produce our own TV programmes, particularly live shows, and transmit them in digital format through various digital channels in two years,” Chatchai said.
