The Election Commission is taking to the airwaves to get people to cast ballots in the Aug 7 constitutional referendum, launching a twice-weekly television show that will be simulcast on radio throughout the country.
Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said Wednesday that the 30-minute programme will begin airing Mondays and Wednesdays at 5.30pm starting June 7 on the six major digital TV networks: channels 3, 5, 7, 9 as NBT and Thai PBS. All 616 state-run radio stations nationwide can simulcast the programme.
The country's other 19 digital TV stations are allowed to broadcast the show at the same time as the networks, or anytime between 6.30pm and 10.30am. However, they are required to inform the EC in advance of their selected air times.
In addition to airing the EC's programme, each TV station is required to host a forum on the proposed constitution and select speakers representing both supporters and critics of the draft.
Mr Somchai acknowledged that the forum provision has executives of some TV stations nervous they may unintentionally violate the Referendum Act.
To allay their fears, the EC will establish a committee of representatives from the EC, TV stations and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to coordinate and advise each station on what is permissible.