เผยแพร่: 15 พ.ค. 2568 ปรับปรุง: 16 พ.ค. 2568 โดย:รุ่งเรือง หวนระลึก
The Evolution of Television Systems in Thailand: From Black-and-White to Color TV | The History of Analog TV
The Evolution of Television Broadcasting Systems: From Analog to the Digital TV Era (Part 2)
Imagine a time when television was a luxury item — only a few households owned a large black-and-white TV to watch government news or a few hours of nightly drama. As time passed, the world changed, and so did Thailand. This article takes you on a journey through the development of Thai television, from the black-and-white era to the advent of color TV, and looks ahead to the future of television broadcasting.
Growth of Analog-Era Television Stations: The Beginning of Mainstream Media
Black-and-White TV: The Beginning of Television in Thailand — From Dream to Reality
In 1952, under the leadership of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, the Thai government initiated the idea of establishing a television station, inspired by international models. Eventually, on June 24, 1955, “Thai TV Channel 4 Bang Khun Phrom” officially began broadcasting, marking the first step of television broadcasting in Thailand through the “Black-and-White TV” system.
Transition to the Color TV Era: A Turning Point in Thai Society
The year 1967 marked a significant milestone when Channel 7 began testing color television broadcasts, and full services were launched in 1969. The period from 1977 to 1987 became the golden era of color TV in Thailand, with more affordable prices and engaging programming — including folk dramas, game shows, and sports — making television a daily family activity.
The Transition from Analog Black-and-White to Color TV in Thailand
1952: During the administration of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, Thailand began exploring the establishment of a television station, with studies and tests modeled after foreign systems.
1954: Thai TV Channel 4 Bang Khun Phrom was established as Thailand’s first television station. It officially began black-and-white broadcasts on June 24, 1955. The station later rebranded to Thai TV Color Channel 9 under MCOT on April 9, 1977, and was renamed Channel 9 MCOT HD on April 1, 2014.
1957: The Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station (TV5) was established, becoming Thailand’s second TV station. It officially began black-and-white broadcasts on January 25, 1958, using Channel 7 frequencies (hence the name TV Channel 7 Black & White). In 1974, it transitioned to color broadcasts on Channel 5 and became known as TV5.
1967: Royal Thai Army Television Channel 7 became Thailand’s third TV station and the first terrestrial color TV broadcaster in Southeast Asia. Its first color broadcast was on November 27, 1967, marking the beginning of the color TV era in Thailand.
1970: Thai TV Color Channel 3 became the fourth TV station and started broadcasting on March 26, 1970.
June 1, 1970: Thai TV Color Channel 9 (now MCOT HD) began color broadcasts.
1985: NBT Channel 11, operated by the Public Relations Department, became the fifth station, starting broadcasts in October 1985. It served as the national station, focusing on governmental information, national development, culture, knowledge, and creative entertainment.
1996: iTV became Thailand’s sixth station, beginning broadcasts on July 1, 1996. As the first private station, it focused on news and documentaries (over 70% of programming) to promote public rights and serve as a watchdog. On March 7, 2007, iTV returned its concession due to a breach and became TITV. On January 15, 2008, Thai PBS took over operations as a public TV station, funded by “sin taxes” (alcohol and tobacco), with a non-profit mission to serve the public with informative, educational, and socially beneficial content.
Thailand’s Analog TV Broadcasting System
Before the introduction of centralized broadcasting, cable, and digital TV, Thailand’s analog TV system had six terrestrial channels. The country adopted the PAL broadcast standard due to its stability, sharp color quality, and suitability for the local climate and signal conditions. This system, supported by Germany, became widely used across Asia.
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