October has been a month of remembrance, as Thais are mourning the loss of the late King Bhumibol, who passed away one year ago.
As the day of the royal cremation draws closer, TV stations and other media players are marking the sombre occasion.
Earlier this month, TV stations began modifying their programming and advertisements for 30 days, mostly switching to show monochrome pictures to pay their respects.
In line with guidelines from the Media Agency Association of Thailand (MAAT), digital TV operators have stopped broadcasting entertainment-related TV programmes to pay tribute to the late King during the month-long commemoration period. The MAAT has categorised the suspension of TV programmes into four periods.
First, digital TV operators were allowed to broadcast advertisements as normal from Oct 1 to 12 but were required to adapt their tone to be sufficiently respectful.
During the second phase, from Oct 13 to 24, digital TV operators are required to tone down the colour saturation for both TV programmes and advertisements by 40%, while avoiding entertainment-related TV programmes, especially those featuring rude language.
Third, from Oct 25 to 27, digital TV operators are obliged to suspend their normal schedules and advertisements, only showing commemorative programming, while commercials will only depict company logos and content honouring the late King.
Finally, digital TV operators will be allowed to resume broadcasting their normal programmes, but the broadcasts should not be too bright in terms of picture and sound, while improper content containing violence, sex or rude language in the initial post-royal cremation period should be avoided.
SET-listed MCOT Plc, the operator of MCOT HD and MCOT Family, has, for instance, rearranged its normal programming for the whole month in line with the government and MAAT's guidelines, including its radio station broadcasts.
The state-enterprise digital TV channel will reduce its colour saturation by 40%, broadcast programming related to royal activities and tasteful advertisements, while all entertainment-related content and advertisements will be suspended for three days, starting from the royal cremation, which takes place on Oct 26.
MCOT president Kemmatat Paladesh said the TV programme reshuffle will strictly follow the guidelines from the National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and MAAT to pay tribute to the late King. He also hopes that people will see the documentary produced by MCOT honouring the late King's life and work.
Channel 8 digital TV, operated by SET-listed RS Plc, is likewise modifying its broadcasts.
RS executive director Ong-Art Singlumpong said that Channel 8 is following the government's guidelines, adding that a documentary paying tribute to the late King will be broadcast throughout the month.
SET-listed Grammy Plc is also following the government's guidelines to adjust its contents on GMM25 and ONE31, including online media and radio content, to be more appropriate for the mourning period.
MAAT chairman Triluj Navamarat said every digital TV operator has learned how to adapt their content from last October. They have had ample time to prepare and are willingly participating in the commemoration period despite the loss of ad revenue, he said.
Two out-of-home media giants, Plan B Media and VGI, have also asked for cooperation from their clients during the mourning period.
Plan B Media said it will provide a 20% discount on production costs for any clients that wish to send their own messages of condolence this month.
For outdoor advertisers, all large and mid-sized billboards and street furniture are turning off their lighting from Oct 1 to 27.
Digital media provided by Plan B Media, including LCD on buses and large digital screens in downtown locations, will likewise turn down the colour saturation by 40% from Oct 1 to 15. From Oct 16 to 25, all advertisements will only include messages of condolence bearing corporate logos, while content featuring the late King's life, work and speeches will also be shown.
Plan B will broadcast the royal cremation ceremony live on all digital screens on Oct 26.
SET-listed VGI Global Media Plc, a provider of media space on the skytrain system, will also broadcast the late King's works and speeches, including a special programme entitled Kaw Tor Pai (Keep Walking) at five BTS stations -- Mor Chit, Phaya Thai, Siam, Asok and Sala Daeng -- for the whole month.
Meanwhile, Major Cineplex Group Plc said its cinemas will be closed on Oct 26 to honour the royal cremation. Executives said the closures would allow employees from the operator's 119 branches to pay their respects.