Thread: Thailand, Channel 3: Politically tinged drama abruptly taken off air

Govt denies pulling controversial TV show - The Nation

Govt denies pulling controversial TV show

The Nation January 5, 2013 1:00 am


Government figures yesterday denied any political intervention in the abrupt termination of a controversial soap opera on Channel 3, which was unexpectedly replaced last night with a new drama series.

Channel 3 announced in an onscreen message last night that "Nua Mek 2" (Above the Clouds 2) had been replaced earlier than scheduled because of "inappropriate" content. The issue quickly became a hot topic in the social media. The storyline of "Nua Mek 2" features corrupt politicians as villains. Rumours, especially on social media, have it the soap opera was cut short at the orders of "people in power" who were "stung" by its content.

Suranand Vejjajiva, the prime minister's secretary-general, yesterday insisted that the government had never interfered with any TV drama or news report. "The prime minister has nothing to do with" the abrupt end of the drama, he said in a phone interview with The Nation.

PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn, who oversees Channel 3's concession, said earlier that he could confirm there had been no such order from the government. He said he would order the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand, which granted the concession to Channel 3, to look into the matter.

The original schedule for "Nua Mek 2" called for 12 episodes. Episode Nine aired last Sunday. A 10th episode that was to have been aired last night had reportedly been edited to incorporate elements of what would have episodes 11 and 12, with the 10th instalment set to be the last. But this 10th episode was not aired, leaving the show's story unfinished. The new show, "Raeng Prathana" (Passion) took over the 8.30pm slot.

Actress-turned-producer Sinjai Plengpanich earlier posted on Twitter: "My support goes to Nua Mek 2 production team. It's sure that Nua Mek 2 will end this Friday (Jan 4). If Nua Mek 2 ends last night, it will be Channel 3's shortest soap opera, with only 10 episodes broadcast.

Users of social media reported following a Facebook page belonging to a person close to a member of the production team, who posted: "My friend just edited it, from three episodes to only one. Damn!"

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

focuses on a corrupt politician keen on profiteering on a satellite launch and a sorcerer who performs black magic to manipulate politics.

hum, sounds quite familiar

looks like too close to home for the government

Wait, what, was it a soap or a doco?

This is why there can be no modern culture worth a damn in Thailand.

Dreary place and quite, quite dishonest. Art mirrors life but here the prism is permanently distorted to protect the vanity of those incapable of being illuminated in anything other than self promotion and propaganda.

Originally Posted by thegent

the vanity of those incapable of being illuminated in anything other than self promotion and propaganda.

Oh you've watched GT TV as well.

That is what it looked like to me. Watched a show about motorcycles one brief picture of some numpty riding an SRX 400 then a whole 20+ mins of talking heads.

They should pull the Plug on the Majority of Thai soaps.

Pheu Thai denies axing TV show | Bangkok Post: news

Pheu Thai denies axing TV show

• Published: 5/01/2013 at 02:40 PM
• Online news: Local News

The cancellation of the Channel 3 political soap opera "Nua Mek 2" for "inappropriate content" had nothing to do with the government, says a Pheu Thai Party deputy spokesman.

"The government did not intervene or order [Channel 3] to take Nua Mek 2 off the air," Jirayu Huangsap said on Saturday.

"But we should be aware that people will always associate any soap operas with a political storyline with the current government in any period of time."

He said it was not even certain whether the government was aware of the issue that led to the show's demise, and that many people in the government might not have watched the series anyway.



"There is no reason for the political side to pressure the media to stop this broadcast because a soap opera is just a soap opera."

Nua Mek 2 tells the story of a prime minister, his crooked deputy who is involved in a dubious satellite project, and a sorcerer who performs black rites to manipulate political events.

The series also featured a character called Prae-pailin and a special investigation unit called the TSI. The hook of the story was that the prime minister has already been dead and what we see is his body possessed by a necromancer.

Produced by Chatchai Plengpanich and directed by Nonzee Nimibutr, the programme made its debut on Dec 14. Originally 12 episodes were scheduled with the finale to be shown this Sunday.

After nine episodes, a decision was taken to combine the final three episodes into one, which was to be broadcast on Friday night.

However, at 6.30pm Friday, Channel 3 ran an on-screen message announcing that it wouldn't screen Nua Mek 2 and would replace it with the romantic drama Rang Prathana.

Online conspiracy theorists have been having a field day, with some noting that Nua Mek featured a government satellite contract. Deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra founded the satellite operator Thaicom before his family sold their shares in its parent Shin Corp in 2006.

Some commentators have suggested that Thaksin himself might have been offended by the show. The producers of "Nua Mek 2" have declined to comment on exactly what "inappropriate content" got them into trouble.

Sunisa Lertpakawat, another Pheu Thai deputy spokeswoman, said it was impossible for the "Man in Dubai", a reference to Thaksin's base in exile, to ask Channel 3 to abruptly end the show.

"Former prime minister Thaksin lives abroad and there's no way he's watching this soap opera," Lt Sunisa said.

She said Channel 3 was a public company listed on the stock market and it had executives who made decisions in a professional manner.

The government cannot interfere with Channel 3's operation and there is no reason to do so, she added.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, a spokesman for the opposition Democrat Party, said he failed to understand why the content of Nua Mek 2 was deemed inappropriate since the drama focused on morality, ethics, goodness and the principle of doing good for the country.

"Although the government denies that it has nothing to do with this series' abrupt end, the Democrats believe Channel 3 and the show's producer have no reason not to air it just because it's political," Mr Chavanond said.

"Does the plot offend someone who works behind the government since the show and this government share similar elements?"

The video clip below, uploaded to YouTube by chailasalle, shows some scenes from the politically tinged Nua Mek 2 (Beyond the Clouds). In the first scene, a prime minister (wearing glasses) argues with his deputy about corruption in a government project.

^ Maybe it was just a really bad soap...and viewing figures were dire?

Is it too much like taksin? 555

Thaksin not to blame for soap being canned: Pheu Thai - The Nation

Thaksin not to blame for soap being canned: Pheu Thai

The Nation on Sunday January 6, 2013 1:00 am

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was not behind the abrupt termination on Friday night of the soap opera "Nua Mek 2" on Channel 3, a spokesperson for the ruling Pheu Thai Party said yesterday.

Sunisa Lertpakawat, deputy spokesperson for Pheu Thai, said it was "impossible and insensible" for Thaksin to interfere with this matter.

"Former PM Thaksin stays overseas and he certainly could not view this drama, so he had nothing to do with this matter," she said.

She added that the accusations obviously came from political enemies of Thaksin and Pheu Thai.

The ex-PM, who has been in self-exile overseas, is believed to be pulling strings behind the ruling party.

There was no need for the government to request a premature end of the soap opera, Sunisa said. She called for critics to stop linking the matter to politics.

Government spokesman Tossaporn Serirak yesterday expressed suspicion that the abrupt end of the soap "Nua Mek 2" might be a move aimed at boosting its rating.

"This matter certainly has nothing to do with politics. It could be an attempt to boost the rating and draw public interest," Tossaporn said.

He also called on the producers and Channel 3 to explain to the public about this matter.

The spokesman also insisted that there was no political interference.

"Channel 3 is operated by a private company and I don't think they can be told to do this or that. They have independence. The channel does not belong to the government and we can't tell them what we want," he said.

-----
'Concern over content' behind axing of drama - The Nation

'Concern over content' behind axing of drama

The Nation on Sunday January 6, 2013 1:00 am

Democrat spokesman attacks the government over the ban of Nua Mek drama.

NBTC panel chief says Channel 3 executives were worried some parts of soap opera may violate broadcast law

Channel 3 executives abruptly terminated the controversial soap opera "Nua Mek 2" on Friday night because of their concern its content could violate the law, a member of the broadcast regulator said yesterday.

Peerapong Manakit said he gathered from personal discussions with unnamed Channel 3 executives that the station was concerned the drama might violate Article 37 of the Radio and Television Broadcasting Business Act BE 2551 (2008). But he wasn't told which parts of the drama had such violations.

Peerapong is chairman of the National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC)'s subcommittee in charge of content and programme slots.

Peerapong said the scrapping of the soap opera was an act of self-censorship by the station. He said NBTC wouldn't be able to investigate the episodes that were aired or published and said the Channel 3 committee overseeing content must have thought it through before terminating it.

Article 37 prohibits the airing of programmes with content within the frame of overthrowing the country's democracy; or affecting national security, order or people's morality; or within the frame of obscenity or seriously affecting people's minds and health.

Meanwhile, social media has seen a move to set up a Facebook page calling for the return of "Nua Mek 2", with 12,000 people posting comments calling for Channel 3 to air the final episode. As of 5pm yesterday, 154,744 people "liked" the page.

The drama series title literally means "Over the clouds" and its subtle meaning is "out of the blue".

Supinya Klangnarong, an NBTC commissioner, yesterday opined via Tweeter (@supinya) that she would table this "media freedom suppression" issue at the NBTC meeting tomorrow. She urged Thai consumers to file complaints.

Supinya said the issue would affect the people's faith in Thai dramas on free TV while the NBTC legally couldn't order a station to air or not air any drama. However, if there were such "political intervention" in the station's decision, she believed that this was an issue involving media freedom. She said Thais would have to watch dramas with catfight, rape and slapstick scenes because people would be too afraid to create other drama genres, especially political ones.

Since the NBTC, with authority to supervise Channel 3, hasn't banned any drama, this issue showed that free-TV people were actually afraid of the "invisible hand" rather than the NBTC, she tweeted. If Channel 3 was a victim of political intervention and complained to the NBTC, the agency would take up the case but if the station did not complain, the audience could complain to the NBTC via hotline 1200 instead. If it were a law violation then it would be an ethical issue, so the agency would forward it to the media ethical authority's consideration. Saying she would table this issue tomorrow, she said she wasn't sure what the NBTC resolution would be. She said her tweets yesterday were her personal opinion. She said NBTC could ask Channel 3 to explain the reason for the termination and invite those involved for talks. She promised to keep the public posted about the outcome.

If Channel 3 was concerned about its concession contract and hence vulnerable to political intervention, she suggested that the station bid for a 24-channel digital TV signal and give up the old concession. She said the advantage of being under the NBTC licence system was the station would be free from political influence.

Meanwhile, former NBTC sub-panel on Consumer Protection in Radio and Television Broadcasting Business official Chairat Saeng-arun said the producers, stations and audience should be free to view programmes and the issue involving the political drama was a violation of the people's right. He called for an investigation to reveal and punish the person behind terminating the drama.

Meanwhile, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit said the DSI had no part in the decision to terminate the programme. He said the DSI hadn't yet started probing the lawyer club's complaint on December 28, 2012, over Bangkok Entertainment's 10-year concession extension. Bangkok Entertainment - a unit of BEC World - has operated Channel 3 since 1990, and its contract with MCOT expires next year.

Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul commented on her Facebook that she thought the drama was constructive hence the station should clearly explain to society why the serial was pulled out and why there was a rush for self-censorship.

Actor Noppol Komarachun, who played Dr Mekha in this drama, briefly commented on his Facebook page that, "…those giving comments are underlings that have no knowledge of what's really going on…"

A "Neu Mek" fan in Tak's Mae Sot district, Wanichakul Saenmee, said she didn't understand why the government had banned this drama, which had good anti-corruption content, while allowing love stories with sexual scenes to be aired.

The drama, which made its debut on December 14, originally had 12 episodes and its ninth episode was aired last Sunday. Its 10th episode, which was to have been aired on Friday night, had reportedly been edited to incorporate episodes 11 and 12, so that it was set to be the drama's last episode. The 10th episode, however, wasn't aired because Channel 3 said it had "inappropriate content" and the 8.30pm slot was given to a drama called "Raeng Prathana" (Passion). This led to criticism in social media that the ban was because of "political intervention".

Power of words

Selected quotes from the drama series 'Nua Mek 2'

From the character 'Dr Mekha', a respectable politician and prime minister:

"People who cheat the country don't deserve any honour. I will not let anyone exploit the taxpayers' money."

"The happiness from cutting an eight-lane road into a national park, killing wildlife and destroying the environment can only be felt by people with brains less intelligent than those of animals."

"If you don't fully understand being human and the meanings of 'goodness', 'morality' and 'virtue', you don't play politics. That's because you will end up tarnishing the Parliament and destroying the country."

From Dr Mekha's crooked deputy:

"It's totally stupid for a person with power to fail to use his power. If it's not called 'stupid', what should I call it?"

"Government spokesman Tossaporn Serirak yesterday expressed suspicion that the abrupt end of the soap "Nua Mek 2" might be a move aimed at boosting its rating.

"This matter certainly has nothing to do with politics. It could be an attempt to boost the rating and draw public interest," Tossaporn said."

It got cancelled.

"Article 37 prohibits the airing of programmes with content within the frame of overthrowing the country's democracy; or affecting national security, order or people's morality; or within the frame of obscenity or seriously affecting people's minds and health."

No wonder the TV here is so goddamn awful.

Just reviewing the comment pages from the bangkok post gives a pretty clear idea how blinkered most "educated" Thais are, half aware of the outside world and their childish malevolence to anything they don't get or anything to do with their government.

50 channels and nothing on.
So you get the full true package but my step children and the wife just watch the soaps.

So maybe it's a thinly veiled swipe at thaksin written by childish impish Thais who think they're clever.
Remember the film that was banned and its director?

So the bk post can portray this government as denying free speech and go on and on about the violence of the police against their "peaceful" Siam pitak demonstrators against democracy.
How polarized this society is now but those on top (read yellow) just retreat further and further into fantasy.

Soap opera axing sparks political firestorm | Bangkok Post: news

Soap opera axing sparks political firestorm

TELECOM REGULATOR DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM CHANNEL 3

• Published: 6/01/2013 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The national telecom regulator is expected to hold an emergency meeting Monday to review the abrupt axing of a prime-time soap opera amid accusations of political interference.


Commissioner Supinya Klangnarong of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) said she wondered if political interference caused cancellation of the show.

Privately owned Channel 3 abruptly pulled a broadcast of political drama Nua Mek 2 on Friday night.

The opposition Democrat Party Saturday called on independent organisations, including the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the ombudsman, to investigate the sudden cancellation.

NBTC commissioner Supinya Klangnarong said Saturday she would ask the NBTC board to discuss the issue in a special session tomorrow.

Ms Supinya said on her Twitter page yesterday that political interference would amount to freedom of expression being trampled on.

But if Channel 3 permitted the interference, questions about the station's moral courage would arise, she said.

"If this was a case of self-censorship on Channel 3's part, the station would not likely file a complaint. Those who stand to lose are the viewers," she said. She said Channel 3 might have resorted to self-censorship because it feared the "invisible hand" of political influence might affect its broadcast concession.

"We [NBTC], as a regulator, never put pressure on or gave a warning to Channel 3 [over the series content], so why did the station show fear like this?," Ms Supinya said.

She said the station seems to fear "political influence" rather than the NBTC because it operates under the state concession system.

Another NBTC commissioner, Peerapong Manakit, said yesterday the commission will send a letter to Channel 3 tomorrow demanding an explanation.

The commissioner said he has spoken with an executive at Channel 3 who told him the content of Nua Mek 2 breached Section 37 of the Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations Act.

Section 37 bars broadcast content that seeks to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, threatens national security or morality, constitutes profanity or harms people's mental or physical health.

However, Lt Gen Peerapong said the executive did not say which specific part of Section 37 Nua Mek 2 might have violated.

Nua Mek 2 tells the story of a prime minister, his crooked deputy who is involved in a dubious satellite project, and a sorcerer who performs black rites to manipulate political events.

The series also featured a lead character called Praepailin and a special investigation unit called the TSI.

The hook of the story was that the prime minister had already died and his body is now possessed by a necromancer.

The move to axe the show sparked criticism from many viewers through social media.

Some link the name of Praepailin to Paetongtarn, the name of one of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's children, and they believe another key reason behind the ban is that the story tells about corrupt practices in a satellite deal. Thaksin was a former satellite tycoon.

Sunisa Lertpakawat, a Pheu Thai Party deputy spokeswoman, yesterday dismissed allegations the series was cancelled due to orders from Thaksin.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn, who supervises MCOT, the concessionaire of Channel 3, denied the government was pulling strings.

Democrat Party list MP Ong-art Klampaibul said he suspected there might be a person who had power over cabinet ministers who might have a role in the abrupt end of the series.

Originally Posted by thegent

This is why there can be no modern culture worth a damn in Thailand.

Dreary place and quite, quite dishonest. Art mirrors life but here the prism is permanently distorted to protect the vanity of those incapable of being illuminated in anything other than self promotion and propaganda.

Well said, Sir.

Originally Posted by thegent

This is why there can be no modern culture worth a damn in Thailand.

I suppose Thai soaps can be classed as culture, but they were not worth a damn anyway

I am sure there is modern culture out there worth a damn or two, just not on TV

Thailand is not ready for reality TV

Maybe they are ready for most reality TV, since a lot is scripted anyway.

Originally Posted by KevyChase

Thailand is not ready for reality TV

To be fair they have a couple "reality" channels. I especially enjoy watching a Panda eat, shit and sleep 24/7.

Originally Posted by thegent

This is why there can be no modern culture worth a damn in Thailand.

Dreary place and quite, quite dishonest. Art mirrors life but here the prism is permanently distorted to protect the vanity of those incapable of being illuminated in anything other than self promotion and propaganda.

It's all so ridiculous and contradictory, as the production company[ies] that produce such programming for channel 3 - or any of the govt/military controlled tv broadcasting - need thier blessings anyway.

Indeed.
Nua Mek 2. To close to reflective reality.
Not..

It's a fcuking fictitious Thai Lakorn.

The Thai Establishment.

Next thing you know, the'll be wanting to control and manipulate every type of stimulation....from media to social interaction and thought to educational process.

Ire over axing of Nua Mek 2 continues | Bangkok Post: news

Ire over axing of Nua Mek 2 continues

• Published: 6/01/2013 at 04:10 PM
• Online news: Local News

The Democrat Party has called on the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission to establish whether the prime-time political soap opera "Nua Mek 2" - abruptly pulled off the air by Channel 3 on Friday - is in violation of broadcast regulations.

Mallika Boonmeetrakul, a Democrat deputy spokeswoman, said the matter should be made clear to the public since an executive of Channel 3 was reported to have explained verbally to Peerapong Manakit, an NBTC commissioner, that the station decided to pull off Nua Mek 2 because its content breached the law.

Section 37 of the Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations Act bars broadcast of content that seeks to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, threatens national security or morality, constitutes profanity or harms people's mental or physical health.

But the Channel 3 executive had not clearly explained it to the public. Some even said it was an act of self-censorship for fear of political consequences, she said.

Ms Mallika said that because of heavy criticism of the station on the social media, Dr Kampanart Tansithabudhkun, a psychiatrist who co-hosts Chu Rak Chu Ros television programme also broadcast on Channel 3, posted on his Facebook page that he would stop being the host as long as the soap opera was still off air.

Dr Kampanart said the station's decision to pull "Nua Mek 2" was not acceptable to him. The action taken by Channel 3 showed a total lack of dignity for a mass media group.

Ms Mallika said she expected more criticism would be heard from all concerned, including authors and script writers over the issue.

Pirongrong Ramsutra, an academic on mass communications at Chulalongkorn University, posted on her website that it was unlikely for "Nua Mek 2's" content to have breached Section 37 of the Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations Act.

Ong-art Klampaiboon, a Democrat party list MP, described as nonsensical a comment made by government spokesman Tossaporn Serirak that the station's move was to boost the soap opera's rating.

Mr Ong-art said in his opinion the axing of the soap opera which reflected the traits of politicians and campaigned against corruption was a violation of the right of the people who had followed it enthusiastically.

He agreed that the NBTC should establish if "Nua Mek 2's" content was really in breach of Section 37 of the Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations Act or whether Channel 3 had acted out of fear or influence.

Supinya Klangnarong, an NBTC commissioner for consumer protection, posted on her Twitter page that she disagreed with Channel 3's reasoning that the soap opera might breach Section 37.

If Section 37 was the reason, other soap operas would not have been allowed to go on the air. The NBTC had never used Section 37 to ban any media including an issue involving Channel 11 and the hit soap opera "Raeng Ngao".

Frequent citing of Section 37 would only curtail the freedom of the media to zero or a minus, she said.

"The NBTC promotes self-censorship on the basis of journalistic ethics, not on the climate of fear," Ms Supinya noted.

She said the axing of "Nua Mek 2" was something very unusual.

Tarit Pengdit, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), denied speculation that his agency might have asserted its influence to ban the soap opera.

Banning the soap opera would do no good to the DSI which is considering a request by a group of lawyers for it to investigate the Mass Communcations Organisation of Thailand (MCOT)'s extension of Channel 3's concession for another 10 years, he said.

Mr Tarit said the extension of Channel 3's concession had nothing to do with any soap operas to be aired by the channel.

So much for the free and open democratic society.

A reminder to all: these suppressive activities are continuous under every successive govt, regardless of political identity or philosophy. Decades ago up to present time.

Why?


Are you folks beginning to figure this out yet?

Popular psychiatrist quits channel 3, citing disgust over end of 'nua mek 2' - The Nation

Popular psychiatrist quits channel 3, citing disgust over end of 'nua mek 2'

The Nation
January 7, 2013 1:00 am


Showing his disgust at TV Channel 3's decision to cut short its "Nua Mek 2" drama series, which allegedly parodied "people in power", popular psychiatrist Kampanart Tansithabudhkun has given up his long-running late-night sex counselling show on the same channel.

"To neither be a hypocrite, hosting the show while criticising the channel, nor be false and shameless like someone in that society and in that television station, I have decided to quit the show, despite hosting it for 10 years," he said on his Facebook page, which attracted many likes and has been shared widely.

The sex guru of "Choo Rak Choo Ros" (Spicing Up Love, Spicing Up Gratification) said he found the management's decision to pull "Nua Mek 2" unacceptable, saying they were a "disgrace" as members of the media, following several issues with this station.

"They also have excuses for all the bad things just to maintain the station's profits," he said.

Kampanart also vowed to delete his programmes or episodes uploaded on YouTube associated with Channel 3, and asked viewers to watch videos broadcast on other television channels.

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the Green Politics group, issued an open letter condemning a statement by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission that "Nua Mek" 2's content violated regulations regarding morality, saying the script had shown the bad side of corrupt politicians while encouraging the public to do good.

A villain in "Nua Mek 2", a senior investigator running an agency called TSI, may have irritated the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which now sides with the Yingluck Shinawatra government and is looking into an allegation that extension of Channel 3's concession might be illegal.

The regulator should give a clear answer on this and treat it as a case study to prevent a recurrence, he said.

The Democrat Party has called on the NBTC to publicly verify Channel 3's statement, given verbally to the NBTC at a hearing last Saturday, saying it dropped the final three episodes of "Nua Mek 2" because its content incite public disorder, which may lead to a revolt or violate moral standards, as stipulated in Article 37 of the Broadcasting Act.

Democrat MP Ong-art Klampaiboon dismissed a statement by government spokesman Thossaphorn Serirak that Channel 3 and the producers had plotted to stir up things to pump up the audience ratings of "Nua Mek 2".