View Full Version : Modern 11-NBT
This English Language News program on Channel 11 (at roughly 2130, if they feel like it) is so profoundly mismanaged it has almost become worth watching for its comedic value. Check it out and watch for the following regularly-occurring features:-
1) Presenters who look like they are moonlighting. They often look like they have just climbed out of a taxi from the place of their main job. And I swear one of the ladies also annouces arrivals & departures at Don Muang. They also look like they have just been handed the script; or have bodged it together themselves in the taxi, after reading the Bangkok Post.
2) Presenters who let their own prejudices into their reporting on a regular basis - probably a moonlighter's survival mechanism.
3) Microphones worse than the cheapest karaoke mike you can buy in MAKRO. The commercial breaks also seem to have been recorded on the same completely wanked-out fake 25 yr-old SM 58s.
4) Video cameras that pixellate after each commercial break. One imagines that the presenters are aware of this, and appear to find their own distorted images amusing.
5) An almost tangible atmosphere amongst presenters that 'I don't really care if they throw me out' for saying something controversial.
6) Khun Natakorn - The Serious Playboy - My father as Central Bank Governor will probably allow me to carry on airing my own own prejudices as long as I like. And we get those so interesting insights that have so obviously come from Khun Por and his golf-playing chronies. Khun N probably knows his stuff, if he was only given the space to develop it into something a bit more wholesome & balanced.
7) Edward Enscoe - The Public School Bounder - who tends to let slip more than a few woolly liberal gaffes when a comedic interlude seems necessary.
8) Bland propaganda-ised reports on industry (The recently dreadful 'Story of Coal' sponsored by Mae Moh Mine) IT & tourism delivered in a complete deadpan bored manner by the old-timers; or by the sons of the rich & powerful just returned from American Universities. The latter seem to have even worse dress-sense than a completely stoned Koh Phanghan mushroom casualty; indeed the latest one seems to have a greater obsession with his own crutch than Michael Jackson & Elvis put together.
The list is endless! This is truly the most surreal program on Thai TV; even worse than the Dame Edna Everidge lookalike soundalike Khun Valerie on 'Morning Talk'.
With this sort of 'intelligent' broadcasting still on the loose, is it any wonder that 'politics' remains at the gutter level?
Seems to me that the paucity of almost all Thai TV is in great part due to having too much government involvement & interference in the broadcast media. It doesn't take a huge leap of imagination to realise that Channel 11 has been in a developmental cul-de-sac since the day it was first conceived. And with no real example to follow from the 'public service' channels, the private channels have had nothing else to concentrate on other than making profit for shareholders. When ITV looked like it might begin to break this mold, it was taken over by the PM and immediately 'dumbed down'.
Picture this: Channel 11’s evening news in English – Newsline. We are watching the Bangkok Post’s sponsored Newstalk in which two slightly liberal playpersons are pitted against the supposedly heavyweight US-educated Khun Nattagorn. Bangkok Post sponsor this section as a means to advertise what will be in their paper the following day. The three newsreaders sit around & chew the fat on current topics. In fairness, the Sondhi issue is one of them; but somehow the three always seem to end up sneering at him, having only addressed how the government feels. Has it ever occurred to either Channel 11 or the supposedly independent BP that this sort of discussion is supposed to entail a balanced mix of non-newsreaders?
Khun Nattagorn usually manages to vent his full spleen whilst maintaining a face which indicates he is only joshing us; he obviously enjoys winding-up anyone who can't figure out that the only truth emanates from Texas university economics departments. The other two are obviously in awe of Nattagorn's power & status; and so confine themselves to jokes (that the studio director probably won't even understand) that are veiled indications that they somehow find Khun Nattagorn's views a trifle primitive. But no one wants to go too far to the left in an attempt to balance Nattagorn, for fear of losing their nice little moonlight earner. So it all ends up being pleasantly light-hearted.
The topic of a female politician comes up, as she is making some slight criticism of the government. Nattagorn develops a supercilious smirk which indicates he is having an ‘in-the-know’ joke with the studio director in full camera view. ‘Oh well, she’s very lefty you know. She’s always nice to me, but we don’t exactly see eye-to-eye on anything’; or words to that effect. He seems to be indicating that he moves in the same social circles as this lefty Khun-Ying; and that ‘hi-so’ tradition dictates that they must put on a polite & smiling face, even if they hate each other’s guts. After all, you can’t exactly diss a Khun-Ying or the son of the boss of the Bank of Thailand. Think of the wasted networking opportunities! But a quick sneer leaves us in the certain knowledge that she would have faced the ‘flaming tar-barrel’ years ago if it weren’t for the fact that she provides some amusement at ‘hi-so’ soirees. ;)
Baton Rouge
04-10-06, 12:56 PM
Channel 11's Newsline never gets any better, in the traditional serious sense. One of its occasionally redeeming features is that it sometimes discusses party factions in a bit more depth than the English language rags.
Last night's Newsline was a wonderful example of what you get if you pay peanuts. Nattakorn Devakul, son of the Director of the Bank of Thailand and almost certainly the son of the next Finance Minister, was putting on his usual bravado act. So much so, that I swear he was under the influence of something. If nothing else, he was unprepared and plain blustering his way through the job. He was practically banging on the table to emphasize his points.
Anyone else make the mistake of tuning in? In fairness, it has real comedy value too.
He very carefully managed to tip-toe round the fact that he is the son of someone who figured big in his own reports. He then proceeded to tell us that he would continue to be critical of the new regime, and told us how much he had actually hated the previous incumbant. Hardly professional stuff! Especially since I can never actually remember him being at all critical of important people in the past. Yes, he can be quite withering in his criticism of small fry, although I think 'distain of lesser mortals' might be a better description. And he certainly pressed home some criticisms of people who he obviously thought didn't really have his educational background. Not to mention pandering to other folks who he obviously thought were highly talented - and so probably in his cohort sometime in the past. He even went so far as to describe stock market news as essentially boring and not worth a damn.
I agree that NewsLine is truly the worst. The news readers - and especially Nattagorn - offer their personal opinions repeatedly at the expense of objective news reporting. They seem not to realize that we tune in to get the news and generally care not one whit for their personal opinions. Especially when they simply don't know what in Hell they're opining about. Nattagorn is a joke. He laces his comments with personal editorializing and gives some of the most specious "explanations" for his suppositions and conclusions imaginable. He may have gone to school in the USA, but it is bloody clear that he understands little about America. Thai people may buy his crap, but I doubt if many of the farang viewers do. I respectfully take issue with the description of him as "U.S. educated." He may have attended school in the USA, but he hardly seems educated to me. I speak as a former university professor. And, finally, what's with that Dude's eyes!? Could it be a symptom of ya baa, or what?
I view Sarosha (now with ASTV) in a similar light as Nattagorn. She is not obnoxious and pompous as Nattagorn, but she is certainly not the brightest light in the chandelier. However I do respect her for being involved with Khun Sondhi in his fight against the Square Faced Man.
I think two of the best in Thailand are a young fellow named Jay Bunnag and a young lady nicknamed "Honey" (can't remember her true name). As I recall, they have both appeared on Newsline in the past, often together. They both seem highly professional in my estimation and each has an excellent command of English. Top notch are they in my book.
Baton Rouge
05-10-06, 10:15 AM
Well, Nattagorn sometimes wears glasses on air. Why he can't wear them all the time on air, I have no idea.
When I come home from work, I want to get some idea of what is happening thru' moving pictures rather than newspaper pictures. And I don't have sat or cable. I treat Newsline as a way to relax and have a laugh.
We shouldn't forget the caddish and sarcastic Edward Enscoe, who is also a Bangkok radio DJ. And the tongue-tied Sikunya. Jay Bunnag is still a regular. (He is also being used for Colgate advertising) Not to mention 'Honey' [whose real name is something like Khaopunsa Narula ;) ]who was also the flight announcer in Domestic at Don Muang. She was on air last night. Strangely enough, she mentioned visiting Suvannaphoom. I hear that the new airport doesn't have flight announcements in international. Is this also true in Domestic? It might account for the fact that she obviously wasn't at the new airport on Day 1. I'll miss that familiar voice, if that's the case.
Nattagorn made some comments last night about the US calling on Thailand to drop martial law within 10 days. He seemed to take it as a personal affront and hinted that he is planning to air some expose of US participation in previous coups.
I don't get to see the program on a regular basis. That's partly because Channel 11 can't be arsed to air the program at a consistent time. When and if I view, I'll let you know if he follows thru' with his US coup plot expose.
I always suspect that Khun N is deliberately setting out to see how far he can piss off the Channel 11 bosses before they lean on the production company to pull him from the program.
Baton Rouge
10-10-06, 11:53 PM
Quite bizarre on Monday evening to see Nattagorn pretending to review impartially his own father's career as BOT Governor. Never once did he mention or hint that relationship. And an obseqious piece of reporting it most certainly was! Hey! I think the Guv had some good points too, but this was flat out ridiculous.
Tonight, he was going to look at possible BOT Guv replacements. He told us to expect frankness. But the floods stopped him from attending this evening. The show was much shorter as a result. Edward Enscoe made it quite clear to viewers that he was glad to get the opportunity to go home early. Shame Khun N wasn't there! It would have been hilarious to watch him blunder into criticism of folks who probably consider themselves as his father's trusted friends and colleagues.
Tettyan
01-11-06, 07:05 PM
seems like both father and son are in trouble now. is there anyone here who can sum this articel up? i'd take a stab it myself, but my thai's not that great, and i don't really have the time right now. thanks.
http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000134785&CommentPage=2&#Comment
Tettyan:
Both Devakulas in trouble
seems like both father and son are in trouble now. is there anyone here who can sum this articel up? i'd take a stab it myself, but my thai's not that great, and i don't really have the time right now. thanks.
http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/Vi...e=2&# Comment
I'm glad you pointed this article out, because about 15 minutes back Khun Nattagorn was using his Bangkok Post Newstalk section on Channel 11's Newsline as his own personal platform to pour scorn on the writer of this article and others.
http://www.manager.co.th/asp-bin/Image.aspx?ID=617074
Ex. Dept PM Pridiyathorn Devakul = The father
Nattagorn Devakul = The son
Nattagorn pointedly rebuked the writer of this article for contending that he was little more than the puppet of his father's ideas. This came in the middle of his lengthy rant on the hypocrisy of the interim government in relation to iTV's current problems. The criticisms were ones that have frequently been made before elsewhere, but - as always with Nattagorn - the style of their delivery was bordering on the childish. Personally, I can understand how he feels about many of the issues he gets hot under the collar about; and I know that under pressure I would almost certainly have reacted in a similar way. But what are Channel 11 and the Bangkok Post thinking when they allow a news programs to be conducted by this 'loose cannon' moonlighter. The other presenters also make their own feelings about issues pretty obvious, but are at least sensible enough to hide them behind a veneer of sarcastic indifference.
Nattagorn will almost certainly be removed from the program on the evidence of this histrionic diatribe. Indeed, he made it plain that he is expecting that himself.
I hope all this means that nattagorn will finally be thrown out on his arse. Good riddance!
Maybe I'll start watching Newsline again.
Bernie
BangkokPundit
06-03-07, 08:59 PM
I'm glad you pointed this article out, because about 15 minutes back Khun Nattagorn was using his Bangkok Post Newstalk section on Channel 11's Newsline as his own personal platform to pour scorn on the writer of this article and others.
http://www.manager.co.th/asp-bin/Image.aspx?ID=617074
Ex. Dept PM Pridiyathorn Devakul = The father
Nattagorn Devakul = The son
Nattagorn pointedly rebuked the writer of this article for contending that he was little more than the puppet of his father's ideas. This came in the middle of his lengthy rant on the hypocrisy of the interim government in relation to iTV's current problems. The criticisms were ones that have frequently been made before elsewhere, but - as always with Nattagorn - the style of their delivery was bordering on the childish. Personally, I can understand how he feels about many of the issues he gets hot under the collar about; and I know that under pressure I would almost certainly have reacted in a similar way. But what are Channel 11 and the Bangkok Post thinking when they allow a news programs to be conducted by this 'loose cannon' moonlighter. The other presenters also make their own feelings about issues pretty obvious, but are at least sensible enough to hide them behind a veneer of sarcastic indifference.
Nattagorn will almost certainly be removed from the program on the evidence of this histrionic diatribe. Indeed, he made it plain that he is expecting that himself.
I have seen the program. I was in hysterics. Do they remove him from the program? If so they will be accused of censorship which again he mentioned - it was almost as he if he was trying to push the limits. I am not so sure that they will remove him. Let's be honest who actually watches the show? The negative press coverage from removing him will outweigh any so called benefits. The English language press can get away with a lot more than the Thai language press can anyway (Chang Noi's latest is a prime example).
The only problem with Nattagorn is there is no opposite of him. If there was someone of a diametrical political view, the show would actually be interesting. Instead you have Nattagorn who expresses an opinion, albeit in his hyper manner. But the other two I have seen at various times on their own would be boring.
On Channel 11 and loose cannons, well they gave Sondhi his own show so it is hardly Nattagorn on his own.
Channel 11 is on in the background right now, and they're advertising Newsline at 10:30, which will probably pan out as 10:50 so they can broadcast a royal documentary that is totally wornout by replays.
Yes, it could all get swept under the carpet yet again. I was going to say that Sonthi Limthongkul can get away with it because of his high social status, but of course Nattagorn is a Mom Luang I believe.
BangkokPundit
07-03-07, 07:01 PM
Nattagorn is not just on Channel 11 as well. He appears on a morning newstalk type show with Sorrayuth on Channel 3. They often disagree and so do you openly get some divergence of opinion.
The problem is do they take Nattagorn off all programs or just Newsline?
He was alive on Channel 11 as of last night, and looking almost smug and chipper. But not tonight!?
Indeed, he was again quite controversial on the topic of both iTV and Saprang. Thus, he felt secure enough to say that Minister Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan was "asinine" in her decision to remove some iTV equipment to the PRD. When the subject of Gen. Saprang came up you could almost see Nattagorn weighing the possibililities of himself ending up as roadkill. So he passed the buck quickly to Khun Srikanya, saying that he wanted to avoid getting worked up. He did, however, chip in the information - not heard elsewhere - that Gen. Saprang had called himself a hero in his defense against his alleged oversubscribed study tour to Europe.
Yes, I have seen Nattagorn on other channels. And he does look a bit more professional on them. But that's the point really. He arrives at Channel 11 after a long day. After the inevitable long delay while Channel 11 broadcast yet another grovelling video of absolutely no consequence whatsoever, Nattagorn comes on and vents his spleen of all the excessive bad humors he has built up over a day of dealing with about three different and incompetent TV stations. Thus, it's a bit like letting a drunk man loose in a Porsche Carrero. Indeed, the performance is so demonstrative on occasion that I do honestly wonder if he has been taking a quick tipple in the car between moonlights.
:) And looking distinctly unphased! He even alerted viewers to criticisms of him in the Bangkok Post Postbag. The correspondent was also slightly miffed by Nattagorn's co-presenter being addressed in a highly informal way as 'Honey'. Well it appears that her nickname is actually 'Hunny':
News presenters' remarks in bad taste
136 Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand - fax:022403666 - email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
Recently I watched a local news programme that comes on at 10.30pm. It is the only local news programme in English. It began with the newscaster reporting on an earthquake in Iran, and concluded by jokingly remarking that maybe they were being punished for their recent nuclear development activities.
I'm an American, not an Iranian, but this comment really seemed out of place.
Later in the show came a chat session or analysis on the day's news in the newspaper, featuring a man and a woman. Twice during this session he addressed her as "honey".
I can't watch news in Thai as I don't know the language. But I wonder if the Thai newscasts and discussions on other local TV _ the former iTV and other channels _ are this unprofessional.
CURIOUS IN MIN BURI
Bangkok
http://www.bangkokpost.com/120307_News/12Mar2007_news22.php
This has all the makings of a complete ****-up. That said, Channel 11 has never been used to it any other way. Even the name is a crib - from the MCOT Channel 9 rebranding of itself as Modern Nine. As I saw with my own eyes last weekend, TPBS is at least making the effort to get out on the road and try to establish what the public & the business community wants out of a public service TV station before it even starts opening regional offices. In this case, it appears that Jakrapob's personal agenda comes first:
Modern 11 airing on March 24th
The Prime Minister’s Office Minister, Mr. Jakrapob Penkair (จักรภพ เพ็ญแข), insists the newly renovated Modern 11 will officially commence on March 24th at the Government Public Relations Department (PRD). He says its regular programs will be aired on April 1st.
Mr. Jakrapob says Modern 11 will be stationed at the PRD's conference hall in order to manage the budget more efficiently. He says about 10 hours of the daily airtime will be the news section, and other programs will be upgraded over the next three months.
The Prime Minister’s Office Minister says he will look into the laws first before considering changing the status of PRD employees into government officials. He says the changes will not affect the work security of PRD employees.
Mr. Jakrapob says television producers have also been invited to discuss the development of Modern 11, in an attempt for the audience to receive complete and accurate news and information.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255103170020
This has all the makings of a complete ****-up. That said, Channel 11 has never been used to it any other way. Even the name is a crib - from the MCOT Channel 9 rebranding of itself as Modern Nine. As I saw with my own eyes last weekend, TPBS is at least making the effort to get out on the road and try to establish what the public & the business community wants out of a public service TV station before it even starts opening regional offices. In this case, it appears that Jakrapob's personal agenda comes first:
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255103170020
And if the above isn't enough, take a look at another Jakrapob flight of fancy. The guy hasn't even got a successful national channel off the ground yet (including his own PTV) and he is already working on some media megaproject that I suppose will be partly founded on Channel 11. Isn't that part of the problem with local politicians? It's too much like hard work to deal with the nitty-gritty needs of those who society has left behind. Everything has to be turned into a vaudeville megaproject - with loads of skimming opportunities:
March 19, 2008 01:21 AM
Thailand Plans Asean TV And Sports Channel
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, March 19 (Bernama) -- Thailand is planning to launch an Asean TV to enhance regional cooperation and a spirit of togetherness, as well as another dedicated 24-hour sports channel to tap on the lucrative market and legalise sports gambling.
Jakrapob Penkair, the Prime Minister's Office Minister, said the concept of Asean TV was being finalised and would be forwarded to the other nine-member countries when Thailand assumes the chairmanship of the regional grouping in July.
"This will be one of the proposals from Thailand when we take over as Asean chairman. We will persuade others to go along... if accepted, we will then decide what kind of TV we want to have... but not necessarily based in Thailand," he told a group of media personnel from 13 countries attending the five-day East Asia Media Forum here.
He said while the broadcast to the 550 million population would be in English, member countries could include subtitles in their respective languages and it could be extended to the three Asean dialogue partners -- China, Japan and South Korea.
"The content will not be just on news.... that will be boring. We want other things like drama, game and cooking shows as well," said Jakrapob, who has appointed Public Relations Department (PRD) director-general Pramote Ratthavinij to oversee the establishment of the Asean TV.
On the sports channel, Jakrapob said it would focus on sports, recreational activities and lifestyles.
"This is not much about Asean. We hope to forge a new concept and culture of sports where we want to teach the public to be worthy winners and good losers," said Jakrapob, who was appointed last month and oversees the PRD, which runs the government-owned Channel 11, as well as National News Bureau and radio stations.
Jakrapob said sport was not all about competitions as it also played important roles in a country's economic growth. If packaged in the right manner, it could contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP).
"This is all about sports economy. Just look at the Olympic Games in Beijing and the impact it has on China's GDP growth," he said.
Furthermore, he said the sports channel could also tap into sports gambling, adding that betting was rampant in Thailand although it's illegal.
"We want to address this problem (gambling) by being practical. This is what we call sports economy," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
This has all the makings of a complete ****-up. That said, Channel 11 has never been used to it any other way. Even the name is a crib - from the MCOT Channel 9 rebranding of itself as Modern Nine. As I saw with my own eyes last weekend, TPBS is at least making the effort to get out on the road and try to establish what the public & the business community wants out of a public service TV station before it even starts opening regional offices. In this case, it appears that Jakrapob's personal agenda comes first:
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255103170020
Underhand tactics fear in Channel 11 reforms
Published on March 24, 2008
A political pressure group expressed concern yesterday that reform at state-run Channel 11 was likely to benefit certain private companies linked to ruling politicians.
Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD), said yesterday the group had received petitions from some Channel 11 officials pointing to suspected irregularity at the television station.
Private companies run by a few media heavyweights close to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra were expected to be awarded a contract to supply programmes for Channel 11 as part of the reform, Suriyasai quoted the petition as saying.
"They also are trying to take over operation of radio stations run by the Public Relations Department", which controls Channel 11, he said.
Suriyasai called on the Cabinet members in charge of state media to explain.
"The CPD is not against the reforming of Channel 11. But the goals must be clear-cut and the relevant laws must be respected. The procedures must not be compromised for the business interests of your associates," he said.
"The CPD will closely follow changes in Channel 11 to prevent it from being turned into private property or a tool for government propaganda," he said.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said yesterday the new programmes at Channel 11 would start broadcasting on April 1.
He said the programmes under the reform plan could have straightforward reports and could criticise the government. "There's no need to flatter the government," he said.
The premier said certain programmes from TITV, which was closed by the previous administration, would be revived at Channel 11 and hosted by the same anchormen.
"These are the people to help develop Channel 11," he said.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/03/24/politics/politics_30069003.php
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