Political TV hosts take up apolitical roles in new scenario
Play
Channels back on air after signing pact with junta depoliticise their content
PARTISAN TV celebrities from colour-coded political channels have returned to screens but their main content will focus more on constructive opinion on reform and perhaps even a cooking or music-for-life programme.
Political TV channels such as the pro-red shirt Asia Update, and Democrat-affiliated Blue Sky were allowed by the junta to start broadcasting again after they agreed to sign agreements to depoliticise their content and changed their channels’ names. The channels had been off the air since the May 22 coup.
Jatuporn Promphan, former Pheu Thai MP and a popular pro-red shirt TV host, who has returned to Peace TV (previously UDD) since September 1, said his programme “Peace Talk” will focus on contributing to the 11 national reform areas proposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Jatuporn Promphan, former Pheu Thai MP and a popular pro-red shirt TV host, who has returned to Peace TV (previously UDD) since September 1, said his programme “Peace Talk” will focus on contributing to the 11 national reform areas proposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
“We will invite speakers who are experts in particular reform areas to discuss and brainstorm ideas in order to voice our opinions with regards to each area of national reform,” the red-shirt leader said.
When asked which areas of reform in particular he was looking to contribute towards, he said his expertise was in political and judicial reforms.
Thepthai Senpong, a popular former Blue Sky TV host, said he would return to Fah Wun Mai (new name of Blue Sky) to host “Vikror Columnist” [Columnist analysis] – a programme where he will read out selected newspaper columns to his audience. The programme is on air from 11am-12pm daily.
“I will pick good columns from different newspapers to read to my audience because most Thai people don’t like to read and therefore lack good information; I am looking to filling them in with that.”
Furthermore, he said he is hoping to host a music programme, as a VJ.
“I personally like song-for-life music, therefore, I would like to host a music programme for this particular type of music, and perhaps add a bit of political context to the song.
“Since the rules do not allow me to broadcast any political programme, I see a music programme as an alternative.”
However, he said there were problems of copyright that need to be settled.
When asked whether such a dramatic switch to hosting programmes with mild political content would affect audience ratings, he said his Vikror Columnist programme so far had received a positive response and most audiences would follow the programme because of his personal style.
“I believe I have a funny and humorous style that can attract people to watch the programmes.”
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, one of the key former Blue Sky TV hosts, said he could not confirm his role on TV as it was still at an early stage.
However, he said: “I am thinking of hosting a cooking programme where I will cook “political food”, for example, politicians’ favourite food menus and perhaps add certain forms of political content to the show”.
Another prominent red-shirt figure, Thida Tavornseth, who is also a popular figure on pro-red-shirt TV stations, said she would return to host a programme on Peace TV. The content of her programme is not clear yet.
“We won’t do anything that violates the rules, there are plenty of things that can be discussed, and the focus is to do so in a constructive manner.”
