National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT)
The National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) is a government-owned broadcaster under the Public Relations Department (PRD) of the Office of the Prime Minister. Operating nationwide, NBT delivers televised content via NBT Television (including NBT Regional channels) and a comprehensive radio network—Radio Thailand—broadcasting across nearly 150 AM, FM, and international shortwave frequencies. Launched in July 1988, NBT TV began as TVT11, expanding its mission to serve both national and global audiences. Its English‑language service, NBT World, debuted in 2013 for international viewers and continues digitally today.
Media assets
Television: NBT Television (affiliated stations: NNT1, NNT2, NNT3, NNT4, NNT5, NNT6, NNT7, NNT8), NBT Regional (Channel 11), NBT World
Radio: Radio Thailand, Radio Thailand World Service
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
NBT is established as a government agency under the PRD, created by resolution on January 15, 1985 (operational from 1988). All leadership positions are filled by civil servants, and the broadcaster functions as the official mouthpiece for state policies and announcements. There is no statute guaranteeing editorial independence; executive oversight remains firmly within governmental structures.
Source of funding and budget
NBT is fully state‑funded through the PRD’s budget. Historic foreign aid, most notably Japanese grants, has supported technological upgrades. The most recent publicly available annual report dates from 2017.
In 2024, the PRD’s budget approached THB 3 billion (approx. USD 92 million), drawing criticism from opposition voices over the scale of spending on official media channels. This funding continues to underwrite NBT’s operations.
Editorial independence
Local media analysts interviewed for this project in January 2024 and March 2025 reported that NBT programming adheres closely to government messaging. Journalists operate under clearly defined mandates aligned with state policy, with little room for dissenting coverage. With no legal protections for newsroom autonomy, editorial decisions are policy‑driven rather than independent in nature.
August 2025