A foreigner’s perspective on 2019 – the media

13 Sept 05:27 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Digital TV Transition Struggles: The shift to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) aimed to expand channels but led to a 'land grab' and overbidding for licenses, misapplying telecom auction models to an ad-dependent TV market and diverting funds from content development, causing many new stations to fail.
Intensified Competition and Financial Strain: While DTT drastically increased the number of available channels, the advertising market did not grow proportionally. This created fierce competition and significant financial pressure on broadcasters, who historically operated under a government-controlled frequency system.
The Rise of Fake News and Regulatory Challenges: The internet's impact, combined with increased competition and less stringent regulation compared to traditional media, fostered an environment ripe for 'fake news,' misleading advertising, and political bias, prompting the Thai government to establish an 'Anti Fake News' center.

Six injured after car smashes into On Nut shopping mall

Yesterday 22:44 Key points summarised by AI

A 67-year-old woman drove her car through the glass frontage of a Bangkok shopping mall, injuring six people, including a six-year-old girl.
The driver claimed she accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake after being startled, causing the vehicle to surge forward.
She apologized to the victims, promising insurance coverage and additional financial aid, while police continue to gather statements before filing charges.