Channel 5
Launched in 1958, Channel 5—formally known as the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Station—stands as one of Thailand’s oldest television broadcasters. Its establishment was part of the military’s broader efforts to expand its communication reach and influence across the country’s media landscape.
Media assets
Television: Channel 5
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Channel 5 remains under the direct control of the Royal Thai Army, which exercises full authority over the station’s governance, operations, and strategic direction. All senior management positions are held by military personnel or individuals appointed by the army’s high command, reflecting a top-down model of media control rooted in Thailand’s longstanding tradition of military involvement in public affairs.
Source of funding and budget
As of the latest confirmations by local media analysts and journalists consulted in March 2023, January 2024 and March 2025, Channel 5 continues to be entirely funded by the Royal Thai Army. The broadcaster operates on an annual budget sourced from military appropriations, bypassing the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and other civilian budgetary oversight channels. No commercial advertising or public funding mechanisms supplement the station’s operations, underscoring its unique position as a fully subsidized military media outlet.
The exact figures for the 2024–2025 fiscal allocations have not been made publicly available. Transparency advocates have criticized the lack of budget disclosure, especially in the context of ongoing national debates over military spending.
Editorial independence
Channel 5’s editorial direction is closely aligned with the Royal Thai Army’s communication priorities. According to assessments by independent journalists and media experts (March 2023, January 2024 and March 2025), the channel routinely disseminates content that reflects the military’s perspectives on national events, often framing political and civil society developments through a lens of national stability, order, and unity.
There are no statutory protections or independent oversight mechanisms in place to safeguard editorial autonomy at Channel 5. The absence of legal or institutional checks means that the broadcaster remains effectively insulated from public accountability or professional media standards applied to civilian news outlets. As of June 2025, no reforms or proposals to alter this structure have been introduced by either the military or civilian branches of government.
July 2025