Channel 3
A Thai commercial free-to-air television network operated by BEC Multimedia and associated with BEC World.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Channel 3 is a Thai commercial free-to-air television network headquartered at Maleenont Tower in Bangkok. It was launched on 26 March 1970 as Thailand's second commercial television station and is regarded as the country's fourth-oldest television station. The network was established through Bangkok Entertainment Co., Ltd., a company founded by the Maleenont family to participate in the development and operation of a color television service under an agreement with Thai Television Co., Ltd., the predecessor of MCOT. The station began in a period when television broadcasting in Thailand was concentrated in and around Bangkok. Its initial service used a 625-line CCIR PAL color transmission system and was limited to the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. The station's technical and operating arrangements were closely connected to the state broadcasting infrastructure: after the dissolution of Thai Television Co., Ltd. and the formation of MCOT, MCOT became responsible for transmission while Bangkok Entertainment continued as the operating organization. This public-private structure shaped Channel 3's development for decades. Channel 3 initially broadcast only a short daily schedule, with airtime concentrated in the evening. Its hours were progressively extended through the 1980s and 1990s as the channel expanded its programming and national reach. A 1987 agreement with Channel 9 supported the enlargement of Channel 3's signal coverage, with phased implementation during 1988 and 1989 and a stated objective of achieving nationwide distribution by 1992. The network later experimented with 24-hour broadcasting in 1997, but suspended the experiment during the Asian financial crisis. Continuous broadcasting was restored on 1 January 2005. The channel has used a broad general-entertainment model, combining news, drama, variety programming, films, sports and other television content. It has also been associated with Thai popular culture through locally produced programs and serial dramas. In 2001, Channel 3 became the first Thai station to broadcast a three-dimensional film presentation, showing Jaws 3-D with special glasses made available through participating retailers and other channels. Channel 3 experienced several important technical and distribution changes in the 2010s. It became one of Thailand's principal digital television services while continuing to operate within the country's legacy analog broadcasting system. In 2018 it was described as the last broadcaster in Thailand still carrying analog television services. Its analog transmissions ended at midnight on 26 March 2020, exactly 50 years after the network's launch. The transition also ended the long-running MCOT transmission arrangement, under which analog broadcasting equipment was to be returned to MCOT. Today, Channel 3 remains a national Thai television brand with round-the-clock broadcasting and an associated online presence through the Ch3Plus platform. Its market position is based on broad household reach, locally produced entertainment and news, and integration with the wider BEC World media group. In 2021, entertainment programs produced by Tero Entertainment were transferred to Channel 7 HD, indicating a change in the distribution relationship between Tero-produced content and Channel 3.
History
Channel 3's origins date to the creation of Bangkok Entertainment Co., Ltd. on 10 November 1967. The company was established by the Maleenont family to participate with government agencies in the development of a 625-line color television service. A joint-investment proposal was submitted in December 1967, and Bangkok Entertainment reached an operating agreement with Thai Television Co., Ltd., now known as MCOT, in March 1968. Construction of the station's facilities began in early 1969 in Nong Khaem district. The project included the installation of a CCIR PAL 625-line transmitter and a training program involving Japanese technical personnel. By March 1970, the network's reported development budget had reached 75 million baht. Channel 3 conducted its first off-air test on 16 February 1970, followed by formal test transmissions in March. The first short test transmission lasted two hours, while a subsequent test ran from the morning into the late evening. The official launch took place in Bangkok at 10:00 on 26 March 1970, with Prime Minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn participating in the ceremony. Channel 3 initially served only Bangkok and nearby areas. It operated as the programming and commercial organization while transmission responsibilities were connected to the public broadcasting infrastructure. Following the dissolution of Thai Television Co., Ltd. and the establishment of MCOT, MCOT assumed responsibility for transmission and Bangkok Entertainment remained the operator. In its first years, Channel 3 had a limited schedule, broadcasting for approximately six hours each day. Airtime expanded gradually during the 1980s and 1990s, moving from evening-only programming toward daytime service and longer weekend schedules. A 16 July 1987 agreement involving Channel 9 and broadcasting equipment enabled the network to expand its signal. The expansion was implemented in stages during 1988 and 1989, supporting the goal of nationwide coverage by 1992. The agreement also formed part of a longer licensing and transmission relationship with MCOT. Channel 3's schedule continued to grow as its audience and programming portfolio developed. The network briefly attempted 24-hour broadcasting from March through August 1997, but the experiment was abandoned during the Asian financial crisis. It eventually restored continuous operation on 1 January 2005. The station also pursued technical experimentation. On 1 January 2001, it broadcast Jaws 3-D, an event that required viewers to obtain compatible glasses from participating stores or other sources and made Channel 3 the first Thai station to air a 3D film. The network's programming philosophy in the late 2000s emphasized improving the quality and variety of its programming categories. Its output encompassed news, drama, variety, films, sports and other general-interest content, helping it function as a broad household television service rather than a narrowly specialized channel. The station also maintained a recognizable association with the Maleenont media business and the later BEC World corporate structure. Channel 3's technical infrastructure experienced a significant interruption on 16 September 2009. A failure in wastewater treatment caused flooding in the generator room, cutting electrical supply and suspending broadcasts at approximately 4:04 p.m. A test card accompanied by the national anthem appeared later in the afternoon, and normal programming resumed at approximately 5:37 p.m. The final major phase of the network's broadcast history was the transition from analog to digital television. Channel 3 was identified in 2018 as Thailand's last broadcaster still transmitting analog television. It moved its service to digital television during the transition period, while analog transmissions finally ceased at midnight on 26 March 2020, exactly five decades after the original launch. The termination also brought the MCOT analog arrangement to an end, with analog broadcasting equipment to be returned under the applicable terms. Channel 3 continues as an active Thai television brand, broadcasting around the clock and extending its reach through the Ch3Plus digital platform. The network operates through BEC Multimedia Company Limited, a subsidiary of publicly traded BEC World Public Company Limited. Its current identity combines legacy terrestrial broadcasting, digital television and online distribution, with a programming model centered on Thai news and locally produced entertainment.
- 2020
Analog transmission ends
[1]Channel 3 terminates analog television transmission on its fiftieth anniversary and continues through digital broadcasting.
- 2005
24-hour service resumes
[1]The network restores round-the-clock broadcasting on 1 January.
- 2001
First Thai station to broadcast a 3D film
[1]Channel 3 airs Jaws 3-D in a special presentation requiring compatible glasses.
- 1997
Short-lived 24-hour broadcasting experiment
[1]The network briefly broadcasts continuously before ending the experiment during the Asian financial crisis.
- 1987
Signal-expansion agreement
[1]Channel 3 establishes a joint broadcasting-equipment arrangement with Channel 9 to support expansion toward nationwide coverage.
- 1970
Official launch
[1]Channel 3 launches in Bangkok on 26 March as Thailand's second commercial television station.
- 1968
Operating agreement with Thai Television
[1]Bangkok Entertainment enters into an agreement with Thai Television Co., Ltd., the organization later associated with MCOT, concerning the operation of the planned station.
- 1967
Bangkok Entertainment is established
[1]The Maleenont family establishes Bangkok Entertainment Co., Ltd. to participate in developing a commercial color television service.
Products and positioning
A mainstream Thai commercial television network combining national free-to-air distribution with locally produced news and entertainment content.
Digital television network · 1970
Channel 3 HD
The network's principal Thai television service, carrying a general-interest schedule that includes news, drama, variety, films, sports and other entertainment programming. It is the digital successor to Channel 3's long-running analog terrestrial service.
Online video platform
Ch3Plus
Channel 3's digital platform and online brand, providing an internet-based extension of the network's television presence. The supplied official website identifies Ch3Plus as the network's current online destination.
Brand decisions
2021
Transfer of Tero-produced entertainment programsStrategyBackground
Tero Entertainment had produced entertainment programs associated with Channel 3.
Action taken
The entertainment programs produced by Tero Entertainment were transferred to Channel 7 HD.
Aftermath
The transfer changed the programming and distribution relationship between Tero Entertainment and Channel 3.
2020
Completion of the analog-to-digital transitionGeneration changeBackground
Thailand's television industry was migrating from analog terrestrial transmission to digital broadcasting, while Channel 3 remained one of the final analog broadcasters.
Action taken
Channel 3 ended analog transmission at midnight on 26 March 2020 and continued as a digital television service.
Aftermath
The change ended the associated MCOT analog transmission contract and required the return of analog broadcasting equipment.
2001
Introduction of a 3D film broadcastProduct launchBackground
The network used a special film presentation to demonstrate a new television-viewing format.
Action taken
Channel 3 broadcast Jaws 3-D and enabled viewers to obtain compatible glasses through participating stores or other sources.
Aftermath
The event was identified as the first 3D film broadcast by a Thai television station.
1997
Suspension of experimental 24-hour scheduleStrategyBackground
Channel 3 tested continuous broadcasting from March 1997, during a period that culminated in the Asian financial crisis.
Action taken
The network discontinued the short-lived 24-hour experiment and returned to a shorter schedule.
Aftermath
Round-the-clock broadcasting was later restored on 1 January 2005.
1987
Pursuit of nationwide signal coverageStrategyBackground
Channel 3's original service was concentrated in Bangkok and nearby areas, creating a need to broaden its terrestrial reach.
Action taken
The network entered a joint broadcasting-equipment agreement with Channel 9 and implemented the expansion in phases during 1988 and 1989.
Aftermath
The arrangement supported the network's stated objective of reaching nationwide coverage by 1992.
Recent events
- 2021
Tero-produced entertainment moves to Channel 7 HD[1]
Product generation
Entertainment programs produced by Tero Entertainment were transferred from Channel 3 to Channel 7 HD, changing the distribution relationship between the two organizations.
- 2020
Channel 3 completes the end of analog broadcasting[1]
Regulation
Channel 3 ended its analog television transmission at midnight on 26 March 2020, the network's fiftieth anniversary, completing its transition to digital broadcasting and ending the associated MCOT analog transmission arrangement.
- 2009
Flooding interrupts Channel 3 transmission[1]
Other
A wastewater-treatment failure flooded the station's generator room, causing a power-related interruption lasting for part of the afternoon and early evening before regular programming resumed.
- 2001
Channel 3 tests three-dimensional film broadcasting[1]
Product launch · Other
The station became the first in Thailand to broadcast a 3D film, showing Jaws 3-D and arranging access to compatible viewing glasses.
- 1987
Channel 3 expands toward nationwide television coverage[1]
Other
Channel 3 entered an agreement with Channel 9 concerning broadcasting equipment and signal expansion. The associated rollout was carried out in phases during 1988 and 1989, with nationwide coverage targeted for 1992.
- 1970
Channel 3 launches as Thailand's second commercial television station[1]
Other
Channel 3 officially began broadcasting in Bangkok on 26 March 1970 after a period of test transmissions. The launch made it Thailand's second commercial television station.
Sources2 sources
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