The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has ordered three children's channels and army-run Channel 5 to revise their programming and operations, saying they failed to meet content requirements.
Children participate in games and activities for a TV programme broadcast on Thai PBS. The NBTC has called for three operators of children's channels to improve content. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
The order came after the regulator conducted an evaluation of the digital TV channels' content.
It found their content did not comply with the purpose of the channel licences. Channel 5 is a public-purpose channel for national security.
Sombat Leelapata, the NBTC's acting deputy secretary-general, said the three children's channels — MCOT Kids and Family, Channel 3 Family and the Loca Channel — did not offer real content for children. Most of their content is appropriate for general viewers, while they lack good content for younger children.
The category of children's channel is meant to help develop appropriate content for children, which is supposed to lead to knowledge enhancement among the country's youth.
"We found the three children's channel operators misunderstood the channel's concept and what was appropriate content for children," Mr Sombat said.
The NBTC will organise a workshop for TV operators and content specialists to help them design appropriate content for children.
However, children's channel operators responded it was too early to evaluate them, as they were still in the initial stage and needed time to create good content.
Channel 3 acquired a children's channel licence because it wanted to give back to society, while MCOT is prominent in creating children's content during the weekend morning time slot.
Thai TV, operator of the Loca Channel, is a new player in children's channels.
Channel 5 was granted a public-purpose channel licence in the national security category last year along with two network provider licences.
The army-run channel must adjust itself by gradually increasing informative content to 70% of the total within four years.
Channel 5 has not met the NBTC's requirement yet, Mr Sombat said.
One year after the licence was awarded, its informative content remains lower than 70%, at 40%, while variety shows continue to account for most content.
Mr Sombat said a joint committee would be set up soon with representatives from Channel 5, NBTC and academics to help oversee the adjustment of Channel 5 to a real public-purpose channel for national security.
During the transition period, Channel 5 can still earn revenue from advertising, but this cannot be for profit.
Channel 5 still has revenue from digital TV network rental fees from its two networks.
In a related development, the NBTC's broadcasting committee approved 63.5 million baht yesterday to create public awareness about digital TV after it found most Thais still lacked information about the field.