MCOT

MCOT Public Company Limited (MCOT) (Formerly known as the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand (M.C.O.T.)) (Thai: บริษัท อสมท จำกัด (มหาชน) (บมจ. อสมท), is a Thai state-owned public broadcaster. It owns and operates a number of radio and television stations in Thailand. It is based in Bangkok. At present, MCOT runs seven national, one international, 52 provincial, one district radio station, two television channels (terrestrial free-to-air), and 2 satellite television channels. Their motto is ก้าวไกลรับใช้ประชาชน ("Always Serving the Public"). On their website MCOT uses the slogan "Digitally beyond" (Nov 2014). That's similar of France Télévisions in France.

History

1952–2000

On 10 November 1952, MCOT was established as Thai Thorathat company limited. "thorathat" means "television" even though there were no television services in Thailand then. Television services under the name Thai Thorathat (Channel 4) started on 24 June 1955 in time for national day celebrations.

In 1977 TTV Radio and Thailand Color Television Channel 9 moved to the present Huai Khwang headquarters in Bangkok and merged to form the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand (MCOT). In 1970, with the launch of Chong Sam (Channel 3), its newest station, while the original Thai Thorathat (Channel Four) network was renamed Chong Kao (Channel 9).