Voice TV suspended for 15 days

Voice TV will be off-air for 15 days from midnight Tuesday after The national broadcasting regular temporarily suspended its licence, citing programmes that caused public confusion and social division. (File photo)

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission on Tuesday resolved to temporarily suspend broadcasts by Voice TV, citing programmes that caused confusion and social division.

Commissioner Lt Gen Peerapong Manakit said the regulators agreed unanimously to suspend the broadcasting licence of digital channel Voice TV, owned by Thaksin Shinawatra's children, for 15 days. Several programmes broadcast by the channel were found to have caused public confusion and incited conflict.

Secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said the commission exercised its authority under Section 64, coupled with Sections 16 and 37 of the 2008 Broadcasting Act.

The suspension period is effective from midnight, he said.

Voice TV executive Mekin Petplai said the station would petition the Administrative Court, seeking compensation for damages which would total more than 100 million baht.

Over the years, Voice TV had given full cooperation to the national broadcasting regulator although the station had different views on the NBTC’s use of an order issued by the National Council for Peace and Order and the station’s alleged breach of a memorandum of understanding.

“Voice TV is of the view it has repeatedly been treated unfairly. Now, it is time for the station to stand up to protect its liberty and to use legal procedures to set the standard for the NBTC’s use of power, to bring it in line with the principles of state law, the rule of law and respect for media freedom, which has been in question since the 2014 military coup,’’ Mr Mekin said in his statement.