Channel 3 () is a Thai free-to-air television network that was launched on 26 March 1970 as Thailand's first commercial television station. Channel 3 is operated by BEC Multimedia Company Limited ("BECM"), a subsidiary of publicly traded company BEC World Public Company Limited. The network is headquartered in the Maleenont Tower of Bangkok.
History
Channel 3 was launched on 26 March 1970 at 10:00 Bangkok Time by Prime Minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn. This broadcast area was only limited to the Bangkok Metropolitan Area during its early years. On 16 July 1987, established joint broadcasting equipment with Channel 9.
During its early years, Channel 3's airtime lasted 6-hours, broadcasting from 16:00 to 22:00, and later expanded to the daytime hours. For a short period of time, it started broadcasting 24 hours in 1997, but was scuttled due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The network resumed its 24-hour airtime on 1 January 2005.
On 1 January 2001, Channel 3 was the first station in Thailand to broadcast a 3D film. The movie, Jaws 3-D, required a pair of 3D glasses bought from certain stores partnered with the network for the event or attained from elsewhere.
On 16 September 2009, due to a wastewater treatment failure, the generator room was flooded, leading to all broadcasts to be suspended at approximately 4:04pm due to the lack of power. At 5:32pm, a test card was shown with the National Anthem, and at 5:37pm, programs returned.
In September 2018, Channel 3 (owner by BEC and MCOT) was the last broadcaster to broadcast analog television services in Thailand. The network made the move to digital television in late 2019 on VHF while analogue television ceased transmission on 26 March 2020 at 12:00am (UTC+7), exactly 50 years after the channel's launch.
In 2021, all entertainment programs produced by Tero Entertainment were removed and transferred to Channel 7.