Channel 3 (Thailand)
| Country | Thailand |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Maleenond Towers, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BEC-TERO and MCOT |
Thailand Colour Television Channel 3 MCOT (Thai: สถานีโทรทัศน์ไทยทีวีสีช่อง 3), now known as Channel 3 Original was incorporated in 1969 and was officially launched it started began broadcasting on 26 March 1970 at 19:00 Bangkok Time as Thailand first commercial television station. It transmits 24-hours a day, 7 days a week since 1 January 2005. Its broadcasting centre is located on Maleenond Towers, Khlong Toei, Bangkok. Channel 3 is the original broadcast channel to many animated series such as Dogga Doop, Shelldon, Four Angies, etc.
Channel 3 is the only channel to not originally broadcast in digital; until the Digital version has launched. Since then, new sister channels has been created, Channel 3 Family, Channel 3 SD and Channel 3 HD which broadcast Channel 3 Original in HD version, which are the same schedule as the old Channel 3, before an Administrative Court ruling prompted the original Channel 3's programming to be simulcast on Digital SD Version and Digital HD Version. On 31 March 2020, the analog Channel 3 will be forced to close, after the digital switchover and also after 50 years of broadcasting.
History
TV3 was officially launched in a ceremony night on Thursday, 26 March 1970 at 19:00 Bangkok Time and was officially launched by Prime Minister of Thailand Thanom Kittikachorn as Thailand's first commercial television station, broadcasts from Bangkok. This broadcast area was only limited to the Bangkok Metropolitan Area during its early years.
On 26 August 1975, TV3 became the first commercial channel in collaboration with MCOT bringing Thais the live coverage of the Bangkok Southeast Asian Peninsular Games. The same thing was also done in 1985.
On 26 August 1972, TV3 became the first commercial channel in collaboration with MCOT bringing Thais the live coverage of the Munich Olympics. The same thing was also done in 1976 and 1980.
On 1 January 1985, TV3 launched its first teletext service known as ข่าวเขียน. In 1996 the service's name was changed to Infonet. It was shut down on 1 January 2008.
Between 1981 and 31 March 1986, TV3 had joint news program with TV9 (present-day Modernine TV). TV3 had its own news service again on 1 April 1986.
On 1 January 1987, TV3 television audio stereo transmissions began in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. It was the first channel in Thailand to adopt stereo broadcasting. It transmits using the Zweikanalton stereo transmission system over TV3's UHF broadcast in Bangkok. Later in the 1990s, the stereo transmission was introduced into their VHF broadcast. TV3 was also experimenting with bilingual transmission over Zweikanalton for a short period of time in the 1990s.
During its early years, TV3 aired on evenings before expanding itno the afternoon. 6-hour broadcasting from 16:00 to 22:00 Bangkok Time was introduced on 1 January 1973, and later expanded towards the midday hours and mornings. TV3 once had 24-hour broadcasting shortly in 1997, but due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, it was lifted. 24-hour transmission resumed on 1 January 2005.
Until late-2004, TV3 broadcasts for 19 hours a day and finally adopting 24-hour broadcasting on 31 December 2004.
On 1 January 2001, TV3 was the first channel in Thailand to broadcast a 3D-movie. The movie, Jaws 3, required the viewers to have a pair of anaglyph glasses that can either be bought from certain stores partnered with TV3 for the event or attained from elsewhere (i.e. a 3D comic book the viewer already has).
In 2013, TV3 is going to change DTT signal from DMB-T to DVB-T and broadcast in two channels, one in SD and one in HD. Currently, TV3 broadcast SD only.
In April 2014, the digital channels are 3 Family, SD and HD Version of Channel 3 has launched, with different schedules from the original Channel 3, which continued to be broadcast through analog terrestrial, digital satellite and cable. This was due to the digital channels being licensed to BEC Multimedia Co. Ltd., whereas the original Channel 3, now referred to as Channel 3 Original, was operated under a concession from MCOT by Bangkok Entertainment Co. Ltd (or BEC). On 1 September the same year, the NBTC withdrew analog television from must-carry status, requiring the analog Channel 3 to be withdrawn from satellite and cable. This ultimately led to an Administrative Court order for programming on the analog channel to be simulcast on 3 HD, starting 10 October.[1]
Features
Ever since its launch, TV3 has been the second leading television station in Thailand, the second highest audience share ever achieved by a Thai television station. In terms of advertising revenue, the company retains its leadership position and continues to produce strong revenue growth from advertisements. TV3 continues to upgrade its equipment for production and transmission, and its employees receive continuous exposure and training in television production. This has enabled TV3 to remain as the premier private commercial broadcaster.
TV3 form the largest media group in Thailand, collectively known as BEC-TERO. It is currently headed by Prasan Maleenond.
With Thailand on the track to economic recovery, there has been a correspondingly steady demand for local programmes, whether it be news, current affairs, magazines, talk shows, sports, documentaries, dramas or films. With a strong base of television producers have revolutionized local content production to admiral levels in the broadcast industry. The station has been a trendsetter by producing quality local production and has caught the attention and loyalty of Thais. Believing in the precept that local content is the way to go, TV3 continues to invest in people and equipment to produce quality local content. However, the station also broadcast a balance of quality foreign content movies, dramas, situation comedy, documentaries and sports. The station has a strong market position and reinforces its brand awareness amongst its viewers through various on air and ground events.
TV3 currently broadcasts under UHF (Ultra High) Frequency. In the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, the UHF channel is 32. It is widely seen as favouring the government and not giving enough coverage for the opposition.[citation needed]. TV3 also tested digital broadcasting, using the Chinese DMB-T/H system. The coverage was limited to Bangkok City area only, as opposed to both NBT's DVB and DMB signals which are available throughout the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. The latest TV3 channels started using DVB-T2 for their digital broadcasting in late 2013 alongside other digital terrestrial television broadcasters.
Criticism and controversy
TV3 has brought some controversies to the Thai entertainment sphere, especially with the excessive advertisement space which led to the anger of the audience.[original research?]
Trivia
- On 1 January 2008, TV3 began testing digital transmission. However they chose a different system, DMB-T/H, instead of the DVB-T system other Thai channels uses. As such, viewers already owning a DVB-T receiver cannot pick up TV3's digital signal. The government has since moved to support both systems. TV3 is moving to DVB-T system in late 2013 as one of 48 channels available. However, DMB-T receivers remain scarce in Thailand.
See also
References
- ^ "All horses at the digital-TV gate thanks to tricky compromise". The Nation. 11 October 2014.
External links
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