NBTC must review decision to suspend Voice TV, say media bodies
Media associations on Tuesday called for the broadcast regulator to review its order to suspend Voice TV for seven days.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission on Monday suspended the digital channel’s licence over what was labelled repeated misconduct.
In a joint statement signed by the Thai Journalist Association and Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, they said the order violated the basic principle of press freedom and affected the right of the public to be informed.
They said if individual programmes violated a junta order, the regulator should consider them on a case by case basis while allowing the station to continue to operate.
“The suspension of the operation will affect all staff and its business which are not involved with the content that violated the laws or orders,” the statement said.
It is the first time the watchdog’s axe has fallen on a licensed digital television station.
Effective from Tuesday, the decision to temporarily pull the station off air was made after repeated misconduct by four programmes was deemed to have occurred between March 15-20.
Voice TV is owned by Shinawatra clan.