Newsline (aka Robots)
If you’re a farang who lives in Thailand and don’t have cable, there isn’t a lot of choice as to which news programs you can watch. The main one I know of is Newsline, which is on Channel 11 late at night and must be the worst attempt at a news program I’ve ever seen in my life. It wasn’t until one of my recent posts got a strong reaction from a reader (and I only mentioned Newsline in passing) that I thought it was time to open the flood gates.
Before I let loose with the criticism, it should be said that of the two women who alternately feature as co-hosts on the show, one of them is good. She acts like a news reader, rarely makes mistakes and when she does, corrects herself in the manner of a professional news reader.
Sadly the female news reader who is good is rarely on and the other one constantly messes up, but doesn’t approach the levels of stupidity reached by the males on the show.
It should also be noted that having come from the western world, my expectations of what a news program should be like are probably skewed against what is available already.
I’ve been considering what method would be best to explain just how bad Newsline is and have decided to provide examples to illustrate my meaning.
Financial news reader with glasses (aka Mouth)
- tells viewers what stock is hot and which ones they should buy
- brags about his wine collection
- talks over people he is interviewing
- freely and eagerly gives his inexpert opinion
- thinks he is on hardline when interviewing anyone
- in his recent attempt at being the main newsreader, had extreme amounts of difficulty following the tele-prompt
News reader with glasses (aka The Robot)
- speaks in a monotone
- treats guests with disrespect
- treats the female co-host with disrespect
- believes he is funny
- interrupts people he is interviewing
- interrupts the female co-host
- barely moves at all
I really don’t understand how the show can be on television the way it is now. Anyway, If you want to vent about Newsline, now’s your chance!
I have never seen it, because I *do* have cable. But, from what I have seen of many Thai channels, they are dismal.
The worst though, is the channel that teaches english.
It is SO bad that any Thai who learns english from it, would never be able to communicate with a native english speaker.
But, on a slightly different line, how difficult is it for Thai TV to gets things right? Every saturday on UBC Series, the Simpsons is introudced by a girl who ALWAYS tells you about last weeks episode, as though it’s the one just about to start. Hasn’t anyone realised yet? Its been going on for 4 weeks now (you can tell because each episode has been a parody of a movie, so when she talked about Catch me if you can, it was 7 days too late). She also tells you important plot details for other programs, which goes to spoil things even more.
your concern about poor quality on Newsline can easily be answered. You just have to look at the last names of each anchor. That would indicate to you that they are on the show not because of their journalistic back ground, but for who their father happens to be.
ever notice how ‘mouth’ gets annoyed when ‘bigger mouth'(the guy with a clear american accent) mentions the Govenor of the Bank of Thailand?
Its my first time at this site and i cant believe the first blog I have read here has to do with the one program I honestly thought was a send up or a parody of newsreaders not an actual news show..its true..should be nominated for best comedy award..
I agree with your comments about the newsreaders..
that ML guy should find a day job and that Jay longlast name guy justs acts a like a frustrated Fox News reject..hahahaha
The women..how often can that one girl read the autocue wrong? come one all she has to do is read whats on the screen..how hard is that?
Interestingly enough the other day I had lunch with one of the guys that helps produce this news program. Luckily I’d never seen the show, otherwise I probably would’ve screwed up my face at the mention of it. But I’m curious now… and want to watch it to see what all the fuss is about ;)
I’d be interested in hearing what your impression is. The more I watch it, the more laughs I have at it’s expense.
at least you’re not stuck with china central tv… think 2nd rate newscasters that aren’t allowed to say much.
the thai english lesson channel can be a fun drinking game- take one shot every time they make an obvious mistake. guaranteed to get one plastered in an hour.
i once saw one of those educational shows on ubc in english- it was describing how a jet turbine works. now if that isn’t a difficult enough subject to explore, the person describing the function of the engine was reading from a textbook, in monotone, with enough mistakes to show he didn’t always understand what he was reading. how on earth the students actually learn something from that is beyond me….
I think it’s safe to say that the best (ie worst) results are gained by trying to do a program in English.
The fat guy on guest spot often.
Abrasive and inexpert. Trys to be Cramer (a la Kudlow and Cramer CNBC). The thai girl is also on radio. Thank goodness for IPOD car jacks…..
I’m thai. I want you to know that we can produce many educational shows in television as well as BBC or CNN. But The thai people[but it’s not me] prefer to watch drama movie or asian series.
and I agree with you that some news reader speak in monotone.so,it’s difficult to understand what he said.
I’m so glad you commented because I wanted to bring this topic up again.
I know what you mean about the drama or asian series, because there’s a great Thai drama show (and obviously I’m using the perspective of comparing to other Thai drama series when using the word great) on Monday and Tuesday nights that I’m addicted to even though I don’t understand most of what is said or even the name of it.
I do still like to watch Newsline for a laugh though.
I strongly agree with Ben Harris’s post on March 25. Initially, I thought Newsline is a good English news program. But, after watching “Khun Pluem Nattagorn Tavakul (Financial news reader with glasses)” pointed out his own unprofessional, worthless and misleading opininions to the public many times. I cann’t stand him and need to stop watching the program!Sadly, the good program has the bad host.
ML. Natthakorn is too aggressive!!