Editing Channel 7 (Thailand) (section)

==History==
Channel 7 officially launched broadcasts in [[Bangkok]] as [[Thailand]]'s first [[commercial broadcasting|commercial]] television channel on 27 November 1967 at 7:00 pm [[Time in Thailand|Bangkok Time]]. The channel's broadcast area was only limited to [[Bangkok Metropolitan Area]] ([[Bangkok]], the capital and the surrounding areas) only. It was presided over by the then [[Prime Minister of Thailand]] [[Field Marshal]] [[Thanom Kittikachorn]]. The first programme to air was the 1967 [[Miss Thailand]] Pageant. The channel initially shared its facilities with the black-and-white Channel 7, which is now Channel 5.<ref>{{cite web |title=ขุดกรุ:จากสถานี HS1PJ ถึงโทรทัศน์สีสเตอริโอ |url=http://portal.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=11397 |language=th}}</ref> Channel 7 was known back then as "Bangkok Colour Television Network", with callsign '''HSB-TV''',<ref name=tvfactbook84>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1984-TV-Factbook/TV-Factbook-1984.pdf |title=Television Factbook |date=1984 |accessdate=25 February 2024 |page=1389 }}</ref> airing on Channel 7 in the 625-line standard (simulcast on Channel 9<ref>http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2512/D/010/241.PDF</ref> in the 525-line standard) and was the country's first colour television station using PAL colour. On 1 January 1972, it started broadcasting nationwide.<ref name="Positioning">{{Cite web |url=https://positioningmag.com/1152490 |title=ช่อง 7 ผลัดใบ ตั้งคนข่าวคุมบริหาร แทน "พลากร" เปิดโผ "บิ๊กทีวี" โยกช่องวัดฝีมือชิงเรตติ้งดึงผู้ชม |date=4 January 2018 |access-date=17 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512083539/https://positioningmag.com/1152490 |archive-date=12 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ch7.com/about_us |title=เกี่ยวกับเรา |access-date=17 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204015701/https://www.ch7.com/about_us |archive-date=4 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1974, the 525-line relays were turned off, with the channel broadcasting exclusively on VHF Channel 7.

A regional station opened in [[Phuket]] on 9 October 1980. Up until then Phuket only had one television station, an MCOT/PRD station on channel 11.<ref>{{cite web |title=สถานีโทรทัศน์สีกองทัพบกช่อง7 จ.ภูเก็ต |url=https://ch7phuket.page.tl/ |access-date=26 February 2024 |website=Channel 7 Phuket |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218150039/http://ch7phuket.page.tl/ |archive-date=18 February 2016}}</ref> As of 1988, it was the only truly national commercial television network, at a time when channels 3, 5 and 9 announced that they would increase their transmitter networks in 1989.<ref>Rainat, J. (1988). Thai TV Grows Nationally. Advertising Age, 59(42), 46.</ref>

Channel 7 launched its [[high-definition television]] feed on 25 April 2014 on its digital terrestrial television system (DTT) on channel 35. Three years later, on 19 June 2017, Channel 7 was given authorisation from the [[National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission]] to shut down its analogue frequencies in the rest of the country, in order to replace them with its digital channels on DTT. Thus, the network was expected to stop broadcasting on analogue 1 January 2018, but the process was postponed to 16 May 2018 and eventually completed on 16 June.

In 2017, it was the most-watched channel out of all 25 terrestrial television networks available, surpassing Channel 3. That year was the first time its morning news surpassed Channel 3's in ratings, coupled by administrative changes and challenges.<ref name="Positioning"/>

In July 2020, the Election Commission requested Channel 7 to cease broadcast of the television drama series 'Love Song of the Gun Crack' over one of the actors, Krungsrivilai Sutin Phueak, who decided to run as the people's representative for [[Samut Prakan province|Samut Prakan]]'s 5th District. The series was then suspended from 30 July to 9 August.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-31 |title=กกต. แจ้งช่อง 7 ระงับออกอากาศละคร "เพลงรักผาปืนแตก" หวั่นเอื้อประโยชน์ กรุงศรีวิไล |url=https://www.sanook.com/news/8220126/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.sanook.com/news |language=th}}</ref>