Voice TV, known for its pro-Thaksin stance, will cease broadcasting on all of its platforms on May 31st.
Voice TV announced today that it will cease operations after 15 years. About 100 reporters and staff members will be laid off.
The company released an official statement, saying that the management and stakeholders have come to a decision to cease operations, after they have assessed the situation of its business and the media industry overall. It also explained that there are now many news providers online that will continue to provoke changes in society, while the roots of democracy in Thailand are growing so progress can continue.
Voice TV was originally established in 2008, when the news channel could only be received by certain satellite TV devices. In 2013, Voice TV joined several other news channels in bidding for licenses to broadcast on the free-to-air digital TV terrestrial platform and began its digital TV broadcasting in 2014.
In 2019, Voice TV ceased broadcasting on digital TV after becoming one of the many broadcasters to return their licenses to the National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), due to financial issues. Subsequently, the channel returned to broadcasting via satellite, along with livestreams on Facebook and Youtube.
Voice TV has always been known as pro-Thaksin, with its commentators occasionally defending Shinawatra family members.
Many of the former news anchors of Voice TV have entered politics, among them are former Future Forward party members, Pannika Wanich and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul.
