PPTV HD

PPTV HD, also known as PPTV HD 36 or simply PPTV, is a Thai digital terrestrial television channel operated by Bangkok Media & Broadcasting Co., Ltd. The channel is associated with businessman Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, whose wider business interests include Bangkok Airways and the Bangkok Hospital group. Its channel number, 36, comes from the national high-definition commercial-service spectrum position it obtained through Thailand's digital television licensing process. Bangkok Media & Broadcasting was registered on 27 March 2013 with registered capital of 100 million baht to establish a television operation initially referred to as BMB. The project was subsequently branded PPTV, an abbreviation derived from Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth TeleVision. PPTV began satellite transmission through the C-band system on 1 June 2013, allowing it to establish an audience before the launch of its terrestrial digital service. On 26 December 2013, the company won the auction for a national high-definition commercial digital television licence for channel 36. The licence was reported at a value of 3.46 billion baht. PPTV began terrestrial broadcasting on channel 36 on 7 April 2014. At launch, the station used a mixed schedule combining news, entertainment, drama and sport. The original programming plan allocated approximately 25 percent to news, 30 percent to entertainment, 35 percent to drama and 10 percent to sports and other content. PPTV initially differentiated itself through imported programming, particularly Korean dramas and other East Asian content, alongside Thai productions. It described its market position as a “Premium Mass Station”: a channel intended to make comparatively high-quality programming broadly accessible rather than restricting it to a narrow premium audience. The channel later shifted its editorial and programming emphasis. As competition and financial pressure affected Thailand's digital television industry, PPTV increased its focus on news, current affairs, information programming and sports. It also developed an integrated distribution and promotional model spanning television broadcasts, activity in physical news and community spaces, and online and social-media channels. Cooperation with healthcare organisations affiliated with Bangkok Dusit Medical Services helped extend the station's presence beyond Bangkok and supported its positioning as a broad national service. In January 2018, PPTV announced a schedule and content repositioning under the “World Class TV” concept. The initiative involved negotiating programme rights with Thai and international partners and was intended to strengthen the channel's revenue prospects during the digital-TV downturn. The associated “World Class Sports” identity became particularly relevant as PPTV expanded its sports portfolio. In 2020, the channel acquired Thai broadcast rights to Bundesliga football, with the referenced rights period extending through 2025. PPTV has operated from several facilities during its development. Its satellite-era operation used the Kasemsup Building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, opposite Bangkok Airways' offices. A temporary studio was added at Ocean Tower 2 on Sukhumvit Road in March 2014 while a permanent facility was being developed on Soi Song Sa-At. The principal studios, production operations and broadcast functions were moved together to the completed headquarters facility from 1 January 2015. The channel remains an active Thai television brand with a schedule centred on news, information, entertainment and sports.

PPTV's operating company, Bangkok Media & Broadcasting Co., Ltd., was registered on 27 March 2013 with capital of 100 million baht. The company initially developed a television project under the temporary name BMB before adopting the PPTV brand. The name referred to Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth TeleVision and linked the station to the business interests of Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth. The channel first built its service through C-band satellite transmission, beginning on 1 June 2013. This initial phase enabled PPTV to develop programming and brand recognition ahead of its terrestrial launch. On 26 December 2013, the company won a national high-definition commercial digital television spectrum auction for channel 36. The reported licence value was 3.46 billion baht. PPTV subsequently began broadcasting on the digital terrestrial platform on 7 April 2014. Its initial format balanced news, entertainment, drama and sport, with imported East Asian programming, especially Korean drama, forming an important part of the early schedule. The channel also commissioned or carried Thai-produced content. PPTV presented itself as a “Premium Mass Station”, seeking to combine polished, higher-quality content with national accessibility. Its early slogans and promotional language emphasised entertainment, variety and continuous viewing. During the following years, PPTV adjusted its mix in response to changes in audience demand and the difficult economics of Thailand's digital television sector. The station increasingly concentrated on news, information and sport while retaining entertainment and drama. Its operating model included television, on-the-ground activity linked to news coverage and online communication through social platforms. Relationships with healthcare organisations in the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services network were also used to support wider public outreach. In January 2018, PPTV announced a major programming adjustment under the World Class TV concept. The new approach relied on acquiring or negotiating rights with domestic and international partners and was intended to improve the schedule and help restore revenue. World Class Sports became the related sports identity. In 2020, the station secured Thai Bundesliga rights for a period stated in the reference material as lasting until 2025, strengthening its sports proposition. PPTV's physical operations also evolved. During its satellite period, it broadcast from the Kasemsup Building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. A temporary studio at Ocean Tower 2 was opened in March 2014 during the transition to a permanent facility. Production and broadcasting functions were later consolidated at the station's headquarters on Soi Song Sa-At, with the move completed from 1 January 2015. PPTV HD 36 continues as an active Thai digital terrestrial channel, with news, information, entertainment and sport at the centre of its public identity.

• 2020

  Bundesliga rights acquired

  [1]PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org

  PPTV acquired Thai rights to broadcast Bundesliga football, with the referenced agreement continuing through 2025.

• 2018

  World Class TV repositioning

  [1]PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org

  PPTV introduced a revised schedule under the World Class TV concept, with a related World Class Sports identity.

• 2015

  Operations move to the permanent headquarters

  [1]PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org

  The station consolidated its original studios and broadcasting operations at its headquarters on Soi Song Sa-At from 1 January 2015.

• 2014

  Terrestrial digital transmission starts

  [1]PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org

  PPTV began terrestrial digital broadcasting on channel 36 on 7 April 2014.

• 2013

  Bangkok Media & Broadcasting is registered

  [1]PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org

  The company behind PPTV was registered on 27 March 2013 with capital of 100 million baht.

• 2013

  Satellite broadcasting begins

  [1]PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org

  PPTV began its initial C-band satellite broadcast service on 1 June 2013.

• 2013

  PPTV wins digital channel 36 licence

  [1]PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org

  On 26 December 2013, the operator won a national high-definition commercial digital television licence for channel 36.

A national Thai “Premium Mass Station” combining accessible high-quality programming with a strong emphasis on news, information and sports.

• Digital terrestrial television channel · 2014

  PPTV HD 36

  The core Thai national high-definition television service broadcast on digital terrestrial channel 36. Its schedule combines news, information, entertainment, drama and sports, with the balance shifting over time toward news, current affairs and sports. The service is also supported by online and social-media distribution.

• News and current affairs · 2013

  PPTV news and information programming

  A central programming category in PPTV's later positioning. It includes news and informational content designed for national television audiences and promoted through the station's on-air, on-ground and online communications model.

• Sports broadcasting · 2013

  PPTV sports programming

  PPTV's sports offering includes domestic and international sports rights. The World Class Sports identity supports this part of the schedule, with Bundesliga football in Thailand becoming a notable rights acquisition from 2020.

• Drama and entertainment · 2013

  Imported drama and entertainment

  PPTV initially used Korean dramas and other East Asian programming as important components of its entertainment proposition. These imports were presented alongside Thai productions, variety programmes and other general-entertainment formats.

• 2018World Class TV

  Thailand

  A channel-wide programming and brand repositioning announced in January 2018 and implemented from 1 February. PPTV negotiated content rights with Thai and international partners to refresh its schedule during the digital television industry's financial difficulties.

  Outcome. The concept became the station's general programming identity, complemented by World Class Sports for sports content.

  Source

• 2020

  Acquisition of Thai Bundesliga rightsProduct launch

  Background

  PPTV was expanding its sports proposition as news, information and sports became more important to its channel strategy.

  Action taken

  The channel acquired rights to broadcast Bundesliga matches in Thailand.

  Aftermath

  The rights were stated in the reference material to remain in force through 2025.

  Source

• 2018

  Shift toward World Class TV programmingStrategy

  Background

  PPTV executives sought to adjust the schedule and improve revenue during a crisis affecting Thailand's digital television industry.

  Action taken

  The channel introduced a new schedule based on content rights negotiated with Thai and overseas partners.

  Aftermath

  World Class TV became the station's principal general-programming concept, alongside World Class Sports.

  Source

• 2013

  Establishment of a satellite-first television serviceStrategy

  Background

  The new broadcaster needed to establish a service and audience before its digital terrestrial launch.

  Action taken

  PPTV began C-band satellite broadcasting on 1 June 2013 before launching on terrestrial channel 36.

  Aftermath

  The satellite phase preceded the station's national digital terrestrial service.

  Source

1. 1PPTV HD 36en.wikipedia.org
2. 2PPTV HD 36 official websitepptvhd36.com