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ASTV (Asia Satellite TV) was a Thai satellite television station and network operating from 2004 to 2014, after which it rebranded as News1. Originally operating under
Manager Media Group Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a government bodies through business administration, nonprofit management, or the political science sub-field of public administra ...
(owner of the ''
Manager Daily ''Manager Daily'' (; ) is a Thai-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. T ...
'' newspaper), the station was established by Manager founder
Sondhi Limthongkul Sondhi Limthongkul (born 7 November 1947) is a Thai media proprietor, conspiracy theorist, pro-Beijing anti-democracy reactionary activist, demagogue, and leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). In 2009 he was elected leader of the N ...
, a prominent critic of Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra Thaksin Shinawatra (, ; born 26 July 1949) is a Thai businessman and politician who was the 23rd prime minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006. Since 2009 he has also been a citizen of Montenegro. Thaksin founded the mobile phone operator A ...
, and operated as an ultra-partisan political news channel promoting an anti-Thaksin viewpoint. It played a role in popularizing massive protests by the Sondhi-led group the
People's Alliance for Democracy The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD; ; commonly known as "Yellow Shirts") was a Thai reactionary, monarchist political movement and pressure group. It was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime M ...
, which led to political crises that helped bring down Thaksin-aligned governments in 2006 and
2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
. ASTV introduced the partisan television format to Thai politics, and inspired the opposing channels Asia Update and
Voice TV Voice TV is a Thai television channel, notable for its liberal (Except for one news program hosted by Nattakorn Devakula) and pro-Thaksin stance and political-centric analysis. It is broadcast via ''digital terrestrial television'' (from 2014 unt ...
, which catered to the Red Shirts. Facing financial difficulties, ASTV suspended satellite operations in 2011, and most of its viewership was absorbed by Bluesky Channel. The station has since resumed broadcasting, though its political influence has largely faded.


References

* * {{cite news , title=Internet, Satellite Communications Widen Political Debate in Thailand , url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-07-08-voa18-68819812/413387.html , access-date=23 May 2024 , work=Voice of America , date=2 November 2009 , language=en Television stations in Thailand 24-hour television news channels in Thailand Far-right politics in Thailand Manager Media Group