TOP NEWS
TOP NEWS is a Thai television and digital news brand operated by Top News Digital Media Co., Ltd.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
TOP NEWS is a Thai broadcast-news brand operated by Top News Digital Media Co., Ltd. It was created in late 2020 by Sonthiyan Chuenruthainaitham and journalists who had left Nation TV during a period of editorial and management change. The channel initially emerged as Top TV before adopting the TOP NEWS name in early 2021. Its formation followed controversy surrounding Nation TV’s coverage of Thailand’s 2020–21 pro-democracy protests and a subsequent shift in the network’s stated editorial direction. The departing team established a new outlet that retained a strongly conservative, pro-government and pro-monarchy orientation, presenting itself as a defender of Thailand’s national, religious and monarchical institutions. The brand began as a television and digital operation rather than as a conventional terrestrial broadcaster. In December 2020, the founding group announced plans for a new channel and negotiated access to existing television capacity. The channel launched at 00:01 on 1 February 2021 using leased capacity associated with TVD10, while also distributing programs through Facebook, YouTube and other digital streams. During the initial period, the TVD10 and TOP NEWS identities appeared together while the company sought regulatory approval to use TOP NEWS as the sole channel name. Approval was subsequently granted by Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, and the TVD10 branding was removed from the on-screen presentation. TOP NEWS built its audience through rolling news, political discussion, current-affairs programs and presenter-led commentary. Its presenters included several recognizable former Nation TV personalities, including Kanok Ratwongsakul and Anchalee Paireerak. The channel reported strong performance in the non-must-carry satellite category and became a prominent news and information outlet among its target audience. Its programming was distributed through satellite and cable platforms, PSI set-top boxes and social media. A notable early program, LINE Kanok Yok Siam, received support from Thailand’s Safe and Creative Media Development Fund in 2021. In February 2022, the organization moved its operating facilities from a TV Direct building in Watcharaphon to a larger studio complex in Bang Chalong, Samut Prakan. The move supported the channel’s continuing studio production and live-news operations. TOP NEWS also entered a production arrangement with Thailand’s Channel 5 HD in 2022. The arrangement involved TOP NEWS personnel and news programs appearing on Channel 5, but the relationship ended after a short period amid disagreements and operational limitations associated with producing news for a government television station. A major distribution change took place in September 2023. TOP NEWS entered an agreement with JKN Global Group to provide news programming on JKN18. The arrangement was initially discussed publicly as a possible acquisition, but JKN described it as a joint news-production and programming agreement rather than a completed purchase. TOP NEWS programming began appearing on JKN18 on 18 September 2023, with parallel distribution during a transition period. The brand ended its separate cable and satellite broadcasts on 30 September 2023 and shifted its principal television presence to digital terrestrial channel 18 under the JKN18 by TOP NEWS identity, while continuing to maintain digital distribution. Sonthiyan announced in November 2023 that he would resign from all operational roles at TOP NEWS, although he remained the company’s largest shareholder according to the cited reference material. The brand therefore continued as an active Thai news-media operation after the founder’s withdrawal from day-to-day positions. Its public identity remains associated with politically conservative news commentary, presenter-driven current affairs and multi-platform broadcasting.
History
TOP NEWS developed from a group of Thai journalists and media personnel who left Nation TV during the political and editorial tensions surrounding coverage of the 2020–21 protests. Nation Multimedia Group had been criticized for its treatment of protest-related events and for an editorial orientation described in the cited reference as strongly nationalist and supportive of the government and military establishment. After management changes in 2020, several prominent journalists departed. Sonthiyan Chuenruthainaitham, who had previously been associated with Nation’s ownership and leadership, led the formation of a new media company and announced plans for a separate television outlet. The proposed service was first known as Top TV. In December 2020, the group announced that it had secured or was negotiating television capacity, with reports describing an arrangement connected to the former New 18 operation. The channel changed its name to TOP NEWS in January 2021 and began recruitment. Because it had not initially secured a standard digital-terrestrial channel, the service launched through leased satellite capacity and internet platforms. Its first official broadcast began shortly after midnight on 1 February 2021 through TVD10 capacity, with distribution also taking place through Facebook and YouTube. The PSI satellite platform carried the service on channel 77 before a later channel change to 210. During the first weeks, the TVD10 and TOP NEWS identities were displayed together. The company petitioned the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to use TOP NEWS as the sole channel name. The regulator approved the request, after which the TVD10 logo was removed. TOP NEWS built a schedule centered on news bulletins, live political coverage, commentary and current-affairs programs. The channel’s editorial identity was explicitly conservative and pro-government, with its founding leadership describing a mission connected to protecting the institutions of nation, religion and monarchy. The service attracted attention among satellite viewers and established a significant social-media presence through parallel livestreams. The company expanded its program portfolio during 2021. Kanok Ratwongsakul became one of its prominent presenters, and the program LINE Kanok Yok Siam obtained additional support from the Safe and Creative Media Development Fund. TOP NEWS presenters also appeared in external television collaborations. In late 2021, a separate production organization associated with Galaxy Multimedia Corporation arranged to supply news programming and presenters to Channel 5 HD. The arrangement was distinct from TOP NEWS’s corporate identity but involved TOP NEWS personnel and programming relationships. In February 2022, TOP NEWS moved its operating base from TV Direct’s building in Watcharaphon to a purpose-built or adapted studio facility on a five-rai site in Bang Chalong, Samut Prakan. The change was implemented overnight, with the first program from the new facility being TOP News at Noon Weekend. Later that year, the organization became directly involved in a short-lived Channel 5 news-production arrangement. Following a disruption in Channel 5’s signal during a news broadcast about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Channel 5 apologized and investigated the incident. Channel 5 then contracted directly with TOP NEWS, but the arrangement lasted only about one month. TOP NEWS ended the contract from 1 May 2022, with Sonthiyan citing limitations on news presentation at a government station. In 2023, TOP NEWS sought a new path into digital terrestrial television. Reports in September suggested that it might acquire JKN18 from JKN Global Group, but JKN clarified that the completed arrangement was a joint news-production and programming agreement rather than the reported acquisition. TOP NEWS programming began on JKN18 on 18 September. Existing satellite and cable distribution continued in parallel during the transition, and the separate service ended on 30 September. The television operation thereafter appeared on digital terrestrial channel 18 under a JKN18 by TOP NEWS identity, while digital channels remained important to the brand. On 12 November 2023, Sonthiyan stated that he would leave all positions at TOP NEWS. The cited material says he continued as the company’s largest shareholder, separating ownership from operational leadership. TOP NEWS consequently entered its subsequent phase as an active Thai news brand with a distribution model focused on JKN18 and online video, and with a public profile rooted in conservative political news and commentary.
- 2023
JKN18 distribution partnership
[1]TOP NEWS programming starts airing on JKN18 on 18 September.
- 2023
Satellite and cable service ends
[1]The separate TOP NEWS cable and satellite service ceases on 30 September.
- 2023
Founder leaves operational roles
[1]Sonthiyan announces his resignation from all positions while reportedly remaining the company’s largest shareholder.
- 2022
Studio relocation
[1]Operations move to a new facility in Bang Chalong, Samut Prakan.
- 2021
Name changes to TOP NEWS
[1]The channel adopts the TOP NEWS identity before beginning regular broadcasting.
- 2021
Official launch
[1]TOP NEWS begins satellite, cable and digital broadcasting on 1 February.
- 2021
Regulatory naming approval
[1]The broadcasting regulator approves TOP NEWS as the sole channel name, replacing the transitional TVD10 presentation.
- 2020
Founding group forms
[1]Sonthiyan Chuenruthainaitham and former Nation TV journalists establish the media venture that would become TOP NEWS.
- 2020
Top TV announced
[1]The planned broadcaster is publicly announced under the initial Top TV name.
Products and positioning
A Thai conservative and pro-government news outlet emphasizing national, religious and monarchical institutions, political commentary and presenter-led current-affairs coverage across television and digital platforms.
Television news channel · 2021
TOP NEWS television channel
The core broadcast service provides Thai-language news, political discussion, current-affairs programming and presenter-led commentary. It launched through leased satellite capacity and later moved its primary television distribution to JKN18’s digital-terrestrial channel 18. The channel has also used cable, satellite and social-media simulcasts.
Current-affairs program
LINE Kanok Yok Siam
A presenter-led news and political commentary program associated with Kanok Ratwongsakul. The program formed part of TOP NEWS’s effort to build an identifiable personality-driven schedule and received additional support from Thailand’s Safe and Creative Media Development Fund in 2021.
News bulletin · 2022
TOP News at Noon Weekend
A midday weekend news program that became the first cited program to originate from TOP NEWS’s Bang Chalong studio after the organization moved its operating facilities in February 2022.
Controversies
2020
Editorial controversy surrounding Nation TV departures
The outlet was formed amid criticism of Nation TV’s coverage of Thailand’s pro-democracy protests and disputes over the network’s editorial direction. The controversy led several journalists to leave and subsequently join or help form the TOP NEWS operation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023JKN18 transition
Thailand
TOP NEWS and JKN Global Group promoted a new distribution arrangement in which TOP NEWS news programs replaced or occupied major JKN18 news slots.
Outcome. TOP NEWS ended its separate cable and satellite broadcasts and concentrated its television presence on JKN18 digital terrestrial channel 18.
- 2021Digital launch simulcast
Thailand
At launch, TOP NEWS distributed its opening programming simultaneously through television and social platforms including Facebook and YouTube, allowing the new broadcaster to reach viewers before establishing a broader terrestrial footprint.
Outcome. The channel established a multi-platform operating model and reported strong early attention for its opening broadcast.
- 2021LINE Kanok Yok Siam media-development initiative
Thailand
The program received additional funding from Thailand’s Safe and Creative Media Development Fund to support its production.
Outcome. The program continued as part of TOP NEWS’s presenter-centered current-affairs offering.
Brand decisions
2023
Shift television distribution to JKN18StrategyBackground
TOP NEWS sought access to digital terrestrial television while JKN Global Group was restructuring the programming of JKN18.
Action taken
The companies signed a joint news-production and programming agreement, beginning TOP NEWS broadcasts on JKN18 on 18 September and ending the separate cable and satellite service on 30 September.
Aftermath
The brand continued on digital terrestrial television as JKN18 by TOP NEWS and retained online distribution.
2022
Relocate the production baseStrategyBackground
The broadcaster sought a larger and more dedicated operating environment for studio and live-news production.
Action taken
TOP NEWS moved from TV Direct’s Watcharaphon building to a facility in Bang Chalong, Samut Prakan.
Aftermath
Programming resumed from the new studio, beginning with TOP News at Noon Weekend.
2022
End the Channel 5 news-production arrangementStrategyBackground
TOP NEWS became directly involved in producing news programming for Channel 5 after an earlier arrangement involving Galaxy Multimedia Corporation.
Action taken
TOP NEWS terminated the Channel 5 contract effective 1 May 2022, with its leadership citing restrictions associated with presenting news on a government television station.
Aftermath
TOP NEWS returned its principal focus to its own channel and distribution outlets.
2021
Launch TOP NEWS as a satellite and digital news serviceProduct launchBackground
The founding group had not secured a standard digital-terrestrial position and therefore used leased TVD10 capacity alongside online distribution.
Action taken
TOP NEWS began broadcasting on 1 February 2021 through satellite and cable capacity and social-media livestreams.
Aftermath
The brand established an audience and continued expanding its broadcast and digital programming.
2021
Adopt TOP NEWS as the sole channel identityStrategyBackground
The service initially displayed both TVD10 and TOP NEWS branding while operating through leased capacity.
Action taken
The company sought and received regulatory approval to use TOP NEWS alone, then removed the TVD10 logo.
Aftermath
The channel developed a consistent identity across its television and online outlets.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/top-news · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled