Open Radio axing was 'not political'
GMM Media Plc executives will hold a press conference today to announce the cancellation of a news programme on FM 94 MHz (Open Radio), but the move is not political, Thai Time news agency director Piroon Chatwanichkul said yesterday.
There have been rumours that Thai Time, available on Open Radio FM 94 MHz, is preparing to shut shop because of political pressure, but a news agency executive dismissed it as hearsay. However, Piroon who oversees content and scheduling at the station declined to reveal the real reason for the closure. "We have to wait for an explanation from GMM. We would know by the end of this month whether the news agency's services would be used or stopped," he said. He clarified that Thai Time is not the owner, and it is just an agency that reports for the station. The decision about using Thai Time is solely up to GMM but it would definitely make it easier for us if we knew what is to happen, Piroon said. "But whatever the decision, it is not an outcome of our political coverage at the station. It's not true we over criticised the government. We just reported facts," he said. A source at Thai Time said GMM has makeover plans in the pipeline, from being a news station to an entertainment radio station.
Sucheera Pinijparakarn The Nation
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