"At first, we were glad to see the return of our television channel, but were disappointed later on, as it does not look like the previous People Channel [Ptv]. Voice TV and Spring News are better," a genuine fan of red media outlet Ptv said after watching the newly set-up red television channel Asia Update.
While Ptv was off the air, many red-shirt supporters rejected mainstream media, switching to the alternative channels Voice TV and Spring News, which gave more airtime to the red shirts.
The programme "Daily Dose" on Voice TV, hosted by Nattakorn Devakula - better known as Khun Pleum - was a big hit every evening on workdays, with the same ratings as "Truth Today", with its red-leaders trio Jatuporn Promphan, Nattawut Saikua and Veera Musigapong.
"Khun Pleum helped release my frustration when we didn't have the trio," said the red TV fan, "otherwise I would die for red news."
Nattakorn's ratings have increased since the red trio disappeared from the screen. His strong comments and sharp criticism of Abhisit Vejjajiva's government and the so-called ammat elite class who backed Abhisit have made his talk show a big hit among red supporters.
This coming Saturday, Nattakorn will host a special "Daily Dose" programme for his fans at the Voice TV head office in Vibhavadi Road.
Asia Update TV will exploit Nattakorn's ratings to make the new channel more attractive. The producer sees Nattakorn as a magnet for Asia Update's "Highlight Thailand" programme on Saturday-Sunday, with Treenaprang Maneechatree, a former anchor of Ptv.
The programme launched its test run a few weeks ago when the government threatened to ban it.
"Asia Update is different from Ptv, which broadcasts only red-shirt activities. Like general free television, Asia Update has a variety of programmes in many aspects - social, economic and politics," Treenaprang said.
Nattakorn said that if the media really probed the government's work in depth, the government would eventually improve itself. "In the US, Fox News strongly criticises President [Barack] Obama's administration, much more harshly than Ptv did with the Thai government, but Obama allows the media to do it," he said.
Nattakorn, on his "Highlight Thailand" programme, is kinder to Abhisit's administration compared with his line on "Daily Dose" on Voice TV. It is possible he wants to make Asia Update TV totally different from Ptv.
Other programmes on Asia Update show little sign of political provocation, totally different from the image Abhisit's personal spokesman Thepthai Sennepong tried to paint of it.
It is also possible the channel's executives learned a lot from Ptv.
Asia Update is run by Democracy News Network, headquartered at the Imperial shopping mall in Lat Phrao, the same address as Ptv, but on a different floor.
The company's main shareholders are Jarupong Ruangsuwan, of the now-defunct People Power Party, and Wimon Chanjirawutthikul, former deputy secretary to the prime minister during Somchai Wongsawat's administration.
The main driving forces behind the channel are opposition Pheu Thai Party members Anudit Nakhonthap, Karun Hosakul and Jirayu Huangsab.
Asia Update is on air via the Thaicom V satellite C-Band system at frequency 3690/H/03333. It can be seen also via the Internet at www.asiaupdate.tv.
During its test run, Asia Update airs only daily news reports by Democracy News Network and "Thailand Update" programmes, by former Channel 7 anchor Suparat Nakbounnam.
Nattakorn's "Highlight Thailand" was also on a test run last weekend, with programmes including religion and fortune forecasts.
Some direct-sale advertisements were found in the telecasts, but mostly products for mass consumption. Such commercials indicate that the channel's audience is working-class, in contrast to Voice TV, whose viewers are seen as higher-status in terms of education and income.
Asia Update might not be able to steer itself away from the old Ptv image, since its management and backup remain the same as Ptv's, still connected to the Pheu Thai Party and the red shirts.