The news landscape in Thailand - statistics & facts

The news media landscape in Thailand is highly regulated by the government. Despite the limitations, various news brands in Thailand are developing their own ways to present current headlines. Apart from conventional news channels such as television, radio, and newspapers, Thais are also consuming news from more unregulated sources like social media, especially through Facebook pages, and sharing them online through the LINE messaging application.

Television, radio, and print

Watching television is the most popular form of news consumption compared to other conventional news sources in Thailand. With digital television becoming normalized, news brands also have the option to create their own exclusive television channels. However, conventional Thai television channels such as Channel 7 HD and Channel 3 HD remain the most popular television channels in Thailand. These channels also air the most well-known news programs such as ‘Ruang Lao Chao Nee’ on Channel 3 HD and ‘Jor Praden Khao Kum’ on Channel 7 HD. For brand-specific news channels, Thairath TV, which started as a daily newspaper company, airs one of the most popular news programs in Thailand called Thairath News Show. Apart from television channels, listening to the news on the radio has also become a popular option among Thai consumers due to lifestyle changes influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The same cannot be said for printed newspapers. Although still a well-known option for news among consumers, newspapers are decreasing in popularity and are mostly enjoyed by the older generation in Thailand as younger people lean more towards consuming news online.

Digitalization of media and online news

Thais are gradually departing from traditional forms of media as digitalization becomes more prominent, as seen from the forecast of digital advertisement expenditure on different online platforms. News companies are catching up to this change in consumer behavior and have established their own platforms through the creation of news websites and social media pages. Online news has improved the efficiency of news consumption in terms of news accessibility and how consumers can learn about current events faster through sharing them online. The shift towards online platforms, however, also appears to be a double-edged sword since the fast-paced consumption and spread of news might not be reliable. Consumers may end up sharing fake news without fact-checking since online news sources may be misleading and appear as a trusted news source. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the spread of fake news, especially on topics regarding transmission and preventative measures of the virus. Well-established and trusted news brands in the country are raising awareness of this issue as well as governmental efforts on setting legal consequences to control the spread of fake news.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jan 11, 2023

Key insights

Press freedom index in Thailand
50.15
Most popular news source in Thailand
Online news
Leading device for news consumption in Thailand
Smartphones
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Overview

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Overview

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Radio and print

4

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Online news

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Consumer trust

3

Consumer trust

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